Education

The Green Thing

...your guide to a healthy Earth

Welcome to GBF's Green Thing page. The Green Thing provides weekly tips that you can use to protect Galveston Bay - at your home, in your office, or when you are out and about. Not only can you protect our local environment by using the Green Thing tips, many can save you money! For more information about the Green Thing tips, please contact Scott Jones at (281) 332-3381 x 209 or e-mail sjones@galvbay.org.

GBF would like to thank wiredin.cc for helping bring you the Green Thing! Note: you can sign up at the bottom of wiredin.cc's home page to receive their free eTalk of the Bay electronic newsletter that includes the weekly Green Thing tip as well as bay area community news and events.

Green Tip for the Week of May 14, 2012
Natural Air Freshners!

Leave baking soda boxes open in the refrigerator, closets, and bathrooms. Simmer cinnamon, cloves, and oranges. Place a vanilla extract soaked cotton ball on a saucer. Create potpourri from fresh herbs.

Green Tip for the Week of May 7, 2012
Keep Your Freezer Cold and Save Energy!

Did you know it takes more energy to run an empty freezer?  If you have empty space, fill it with plastic bottles filled 2/3 full of water, giving it room to expand as it freezes.  That ice will help maintain the temperature, using less energy!

Learn more by visiting the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Home Energy Saver.

Green Tip for the Week of April 30, 2012
Help Protect Galveston Bay's Wetlands!

May is American Wetlands Month, so please help protect these valuable resources!  Wetlands provide critical habitat for fish, shellfish, birds and other animals.  Wetlands also cleanse the water naturally, trapping and absorbing pollutants.  Finally, wetlands protect us by retaining floodwaters and dampening storm surges.

What can you do to protect wetlands?

Learn more about wetlands by visiting EPA’s Wetlands Month webpage.

Green Tip for the Week of April 23, 2012
Mosquito Repellants and Natural Controls
Everyone is swatting at the mosquitos after all the beneficial rains.  Besides the biting, itching, and the fact they can carry disease, one other problem with mosquitos is the fact we spray ourselves and the environment with toxic chemicals to control them.  Try some natural or less toxic alternatives to reduce their numbers on your property and to keep them off of you:

Green Tip for the Week of April 16, 2012
How to Make Every Day Earth Day!

Earth Day will be observed this week.  You can make every day Earth Day by following our weekly Green Thing tips to reduce negative impacts on the environment, and even help to improve it.  One specific way you can help is by participating in the inaugural Give 5% to Conserve Houston campaign on Saturday, April 21st.  Just shop at participating area businesses who will donate 5% of sales to 5 local conservation organizations, including Galveston Bay Foundation.

Green Tip for the Week of April 9, 2012
More Water Saving Tips for the Kitchen and Laundry
Minimize the amount of water you use to wash clothes and dishes.  Here are some simple tips you can try with your washer and dishwasher:

  • Wait to wash clothes until you have a full load.
  • If you have a smaller amount you really need to wash, use a lower water setting.
  • Wait until you have a full load of dishes before running the dishwasher.
  • If you have a small amount of pots, pans, cutlery, etc., wash them by hand with a sink full of soapy water and a sink full of rinse water.  Please don’t let the water run.

For water-savings tips, see Alliance for Water Efficiency’s Water Savings Tips: For Residential Water Use, Indoors and Out.

Green Tip for the Week of April 2, 2012
Environmentally-Friendly Natural Fertilizer!

Try these organic substitutes instead of synthetically derived fertilizers in your garden. For a nitrogen boost, scatter dried coffee grounds. For extra calcium, add crushed eggshells. For natural garden solutions, click on www.dirtdoctor.com's Organic Guides.

Green Tip for the Week of March 26, 2012
Back the Bay

The Galveston Bay Estuary Program, a non-regulatory program of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, is unveiling its Back the Bay Campaign to increase awareness of Galveston Bay and how you can protect it. Click on http://backthebay.org/ and check it out.

Green Tip for the Week of March 19, 2012
This Spring, Do Little Things Help Little Critters!

With Spring upon us, butterflies and our other little pollinating friends could use your help. Just a little space in the yard or even pots on an apartment patio can provide them with the nectar they need as adults or the food source they need when still a caterpillar. There are some great plants you can place on your property that can attract them. Even a small space can be a butterfly magnet.

Click on the links to learn how to create a butterfly garden:

Green Tip for the Week of March 12, 2012
Fix a Leak This Week!

It's so important that we are efficient with our water use! Why? Since Galveston Bay is an estuary that depends on fresh water, we need to keep the water flowing down our rivers as much as possible! Also, if we were more efficient with our water use we would not need to build as many reservoirs that destroy extremely valuable river and bottomland habitat.

You can do something easy to help keep the water flowing in our rivers, and not down the drain. Take part in the WaterSense Program's 'Fix a Leak Week' during March 12-18. It's easy to practice water efficiency; instructions are included! Click on EPA's WaterSense website to find out how!

Green Tip for the Week of March 5, 2012
Conserve Water the Easy Way! Take a "Navy" Shower.

While the rains have been falling recently, it won't take much to get us back into extreme drought! We can all conserve water all the time in easy ways. One way is to take a "Navy" shower. This is also known by other names but simply means turning off the water while you are soaping up or shampooing. You can save thousands of gallons of water and money, too.

See the Alliance for Water Efficiency's webpage on "Residential Shower and Bath" for more info on this great tip and others!


Green Tip for the Week of February 27, 2012
Prevent Litter from Trashing Your Local Waterway! And Help Clean Up by Volunteering for Trash Bash!

You can help prevent litter from creating an eyesore in your neighborhood by making sure that household trash is properly stored in a trash container on your curbside collection day. Animals seeking food can tear bags and release trash to the street. From there, it can go down the gutter and into our waterways and pose risks for fish and wildlife. Loose items in pickup beds and trailers often become litter in our waterways. Keep our roads clean by securing any potential litter in your vehicle.

You can also help pick up litter that is already out there by participating in Trash Bash on March 31st. Trash Bash is a volunteer event held at locations all across the greater Houston-Galveston area, where you can help and have fun doing it! See http://www.trashbash.org/ for more information and register today.

Green Tip for the Week of February 20, 2012
Cut Down on the Debris

This past weekend, Texas Parks and Wildlife staff, GBF staff, and volunteers removed abandoned crab traps from Galveston Bay. These abandoned traps inadvertently kill thousands of crabs, fish, terrapins and other aquatic life, and birds. Trash that people discard can also kill aquatic life. What can you do?

First, first sure you secure items in your vehicle so it doesn’t fly out and end up in the water. Plastic bags, wire, string, rope, fishing line, 6-pack rings and other items kill aquatic life and birds, too. Second, when you visit the beach, jetty, dike, bayou, or river take a trash bag with you and collect some of the trash blighting the area. You’ll set a good example.

Green Tip for the Week of February 13, 2012
Buy Environmentally-Friendly Flowers for Your Sweetheart, and Other Green Valentine's Day Tips

This Valentine's Day you can help the environment by buying environmentally-friendly flowers for your sweetheart. Flowers that are grown locally and/or grown organically are your best bet if you want to help protect the environment. Buying from local producers has the added benefit of supporting our area businesses!

Click on the following links to find local farmers markets*:

*Try to call them first to confirm they have flowers. You can also do a web search for organic flowers and find vendors.

Find other green Valentine's Day tips at Eco-Coach and Green Living Tips.

Green Tip for the Week of Feruary 6, 2012
Do You Need to Print That?

Please think before you print. At work or home, consider whether you really need a hard copy of that item... Learn more by clicking on:

Green Tip for the Week of January 30, 2012
Keep Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Out of Sewers

Did you know that if you place fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down your sink drain, you are contributing to overflows of sewage into our bayous, streams, and Galveston Bay? FOG solidifies in your home’s pipes and in the larger sewer system down the line, causing clogs, backups, and untreated sewage being discharged into the environment. You can easily help prevent this from happening!

The easiest way is to not put FOG down the drain in the first place. Never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain; place it in a container such as a coffee can and let it solidify before placing in the trash. Wipe out greasy or oily pans with a paper towel as much as you can before rinsing or washing. Scrape food off of plates and place in the trash rather than down the garbage disposal.

For more information, click on the following links:

Green Tip for the Week of January 23, 2012
Enviornmentally-Friendly Glass Cleaner

Try this substitute recipe for glass cleaner. It’s all natural… Combine 1 lemon, 2 cups of club soda, and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Mix it well and then place it in a spray bottle. Use it just as you would any other glass cleaner.


Green Tip for the Week of January 16, 2012
What to Do with Left-Over Paint

Please don’t dispose of paint in the trash, in a drain, or on the ground. There are environmentally-friendly ways to deal with it: donate it, use it up, recycle it... Not all paints are the same and they cannot be handled in the same way. For more information, click on the following links:

Green Tip for the Week of January 9, 2012
Seal Up Air Leaks In Your Home

Seal up air leaks in your home to reduce your energy use and your home heating and cooling bills. It has been estimated that you can save about 10% on your energy bill by installing weather stripping and caulking for cracks and seams especially around windows and doors.

For more information, click on the following links:

Green Tip for the Week of January 2, 2012
New Year’s Green Resolution

Make a resolution to reduce your negative impacts on Galveston Bay and the broader natural environment in 2012. Increase your positive impacts this by following our weekly Green Thing tips. Be sure to browse through our old tips! You are sure to find things you can do to help Galveston Bay directly or indirectly.


Green Tip for the Week of December 19, 2011
Home Heating and Cooling: Thermostats 101!

Save money and energy and help the environment at the same time by heating and cooling your home efficiently. Programmable thermostats can help. Make sure you set it correctly. You can also set your manual thermostat to get these benefits. Learn more by clicking on Energy Star’s Programmable Thermostats for Consumers.


Green Tip for the Week of December 12, 2011
What's Greener? Real vs. Artificial Christmas Trees

While there are pros and cons to each, The Green Thing recommends that you consider buying a real Christmas tree instead of an artificial. According to the experts, real trees appear to be the greener choice. In addition, real trees provide local jobs.

Click the links to learn more:

Once you have your tree, consider using LED lights!


Green Tip for the Week of December 5, 2011
Cleaning Your Drains after the Holidays

Holiday cooking may have left you with partially clogged or foul-smelling drains. The extra grease and oils from Thanksgiving meals may be part of the cause. Try a natural approach to keeping your drains clean. Doing so may prevent headaches or costly repairs and helps keep our public sewers from overflowing.

Make a home-made drain cleaner with natural ingredients such as baking powder, vinegar, and salt. Click on the following links for the recipes and more info:


Green Tip for the Week of November 28, 2011
After Black Friday, How About Some Green?

With the holidays coming up, consider adding some environmentally-friendly gifts to your list.

Green gift-giving ideas and tips:


Green Tip for the Week of November 21, 2011
Set A Good Example

The next time you are heading to your favorite spot on the river, bay, or beach, take a bag with you and fill it with the trash you see close by. Better yet, take another bag for recyclables. Set a good example for others to follow!

Click on the links to learn more:


Green Tip for the Week of November 14, 2011
Texas Recycles Day

Tuesday, November 15th, is Texas Recycles Day! You can celebrate today by taking part at Texas Recycles Day events in the Houston-Galveston area. You can celebrate everyday by practicing the Four Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle, rebuy.

For more information, go to the Texas Recycles Day webpage. You can also check our Green Thing Tip for the Week of April 13, 2009 about recycling.


Green Tip for the Week of November 7, 2011
Keeping Young Trees Healthy During the Drought

Last week we provided tips on planting trees to help the environment. This week, we would like to share some great ideas about how to keep your young trees healthy during the drought.

While the temperatures are falling, and therefore the stress on trees and other plants is decreasing, we will remain in a drought situation until the rains return. So you need to remain vigilant about your trees’ water needs.

Fortunately, the Houston-Galveston Area Council and Houston Area Urban Forestry Council teamed up to create a great resource: Keeping Trees Alive During Drought Conditions: Practical, Affordable & Effective Ways to Help Thirsty Trees.


Green Tip for the Week of October 31, 2011
Plant Trees to Help the Environment and Save Money

Want to improve the environment and save on energy costs? Plant trees! It does not take as much water as you think to get trees established, so planting them is still a good thing to do even in the midst of this drought. You just need to be vigilant in your tree variety and site selection, planting, and care of the new trees.

Native and suitable non-invasive adapted trees planted on the south and west sides of your house can provide needed shade and reduce temperatures and your electric bill. Trees also reduce soil erosion, take up carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for beneficial insects, birds, and other animals.

Planting trees in the Fall gives them a good head start on being established before the heat of next Summer. You should have them in the ground no later than March to give them the best chance at survival and to reduce the amount of water you'll need to give them.

Click on the links to learn more:

Green Tip for the Week of October 24, 2011
Have a Green Halloween

With Halloween approaching, you may be stocking up on treats for the kiddos, deciding on costumes, and buying decorations. But don't play a trick on the environment! You can have an environmentally-friendly Halloween by being choosy about items you make or buy for this holiday, following the principles of the 4 Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle and rebuy.

What can you do to have a green Halloween?

  • Substitute reusable cloth bags or pillow cases for children’s plastic Halloween bags or reuse bags you already have on hand.
  • Buy treats with as little packaging as possible; give simple treats that have paper wrappers if possible.
  • Make your own costumes out of used clothing.
  • Compost your pumpkin.

Click on About.com's Green Halloween Tips to learn more! Please do your part!


Green Tip for the Week of October 17, 2011
It’s Texas Native Plant Week. Celebrate with a Fall Planting!

This week you can celebrate the third annual Texas Native Plant Week! Join the celebration by planting native varieties now! Fall is the best time to place many native plants in your garden. Native plants are beautiful and hardy, Galveston Bay- and wildlife-friendly, and can save you money!

Natives are adapted to our extreme weather and insect and fungal pests. So you will not have to water them once established nor apply expensive and potentially polluting pesticides and fungicides. Not only that, native plants provide food and shelter for a host of colorful and melodic birds; beneficial insects such as butterflies, dragon flies, bees; and small animals like lizards and frogs.

Click on the following links to learn more:

Green Tip for the Week of October 10, 2011
Don’t Put Grease Down the Drain!

Please do not put grease, oil, or fatty foods down your kitchen sink drain. It can cause problems for your plumbing and can also result in the release of sewage to the waterways to Galveston Bay!

Click on the following links to learn more:

Green Tip for the Week of October 3, 2011
Learn How to Save Money and the Environment at the Free Consumer Conservation Workshop on October 12th

Please consider attending a free Consumer Conservation Workshop from 1:00-5:00 pm on Wednesday, October 12th at the Pasadena Convention Center. This workshop will provide great ideas that you can put into practice to save money while improving your quality of life and the environment.

For more information, see the workshop flyer (PDF) and a A Nurtured World's website at http://www.nurturedworld.org/.


Green Tip for the Week of Septembert 26, 2011
Be Aware of Seafood Consumption Advisories!

While Galveston Bay is an outstanding place to fish, you need to be aware of seafood consumption advisories that do exist and follow them to reduce risks to your health from the presence of pollutants.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has issued a seafood consumption advisory for all species of fish and blue crab in parts of the Houston Ship Channel and San Jacinto River. An advisory for all species of fish also exists in Clear Creek upstream of Clear Lake. Other parts of the bay system have advisories, but for a lesser number of species.

This is not a ban on the possession and consumption of fish, but everyone should follow the health department’s advice, especially children and women who are pregnant, can become pregnant, or are nursing.

Be informed! See our seafood consumption advisory webpage at http://galvbay.org/advocacy_seafood.html.


Green Tip for the Week of September 19, 2011
Celebrate National Estuaries Day!

Galveston Bay is an estuary, a place where freshwaters from our rivers and bayous meet the salty water of the Gulf of Mexico. A place teeming with life. A water body that provides recreation, jobs, and beauty. Celebrate Galveston Bay all this week and on Saturday, September 24th - National Estuaries Day.

How can you celebrate National Estuaries Day?


Green Tip for the Week of September 12, 2011
Learn About Storm Surge Protection Ideas

Consider attending the Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District's Technical Workshop and Symposium about storm surge protection on September 15th. Implementing different ideas for storm surge protection has the potential to greatly impact the Upper Texas Coast.

Learn more about it! Click on http://gccprd.com/public/ for more information on this event hosted by the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership.


Green Tip for the Week of September 5, 2011
No Need to Labor in Your Yard this Labor Day!

This Labor Day and every day, save yourself some work and help Galveston Bay at the same time! How? Don't bag your grass clippings or leaves! Leave grass and leaf clippings on the lawn and leaves on your flower beds. Grass clippings and chopped leaves from your mower are the natural fertilizer and soil conditioner for your lawn. Leaves left on your flower beds are the natural mulch.

This will result in a healthier lawn and reduce or eliminate the need for costly and environmentally-damaging fertilizers and pesticides. Not only do these resources provide FREE natural benefits to your landscape, by leaving them on the lawn, you won't be filling up our overburdened landfills needlessly.

Learn more about this Galveston Bay-friendly lawn practice:


Green Tip for the Week of August 29, 2011
The Best Way to Water Your Lawn and Garden!

Depending on where you live, you are surely dealing with some type of water conservation measure. We all need to do our part right now given this drought, which is on par with the worst we have ever experienced. However, you do not need a drought to water the most efficient way you can. There are ways to do water that help the environment and lower your water bill.

NOTE! If you are going to provide supplemental water to your lawn and garden, do so sparingly and be sure to follow your local conservation ordinances when using one of the following methods. Never water the street!

Watering using a water hose directly can be effective as long as you are careful about letting the water soak in and not run off to pavement. Watering using a hose-end sprinkler is not as effective and can result in much of the water evaporating before it has a chance to be utilized by plants or absorbed by soil. Set the sprinkler so that the water comes out in larger drops and not a mist. You should restrict their use to when conditions are more conducive, when it is cooler and winds are light. Soaker hoses can also be effective, but they must be placed properly and not allowed to run too long and oversaturate the soil.

For a more permanent, environmentally-friendly and low water bill solution, low-volume (drip) irrigation systems are very effective and less likely to result in water running off into the street.

Automated irrigation systems are convenient and are suitable for certain applications like ball fields and large areas that must be maintained, but they can be big water wasters if not properly maintained and the timing is set incorrectly. One of the worst things to see is an automated sprinkler system running when the soil is adequately moist.

Click on the following resources for more info:


Green Tip for the Week of August 22, 2011
School is in Session Outdoors, Too!

Don't miss out on opportunities for you children to learn about and enjoy the outdoors this fall. You do not have to own a boat to get out and enjoy what Galveston Bay has to offer! Involve your whole family in fun bay activities and learning.

From canoeing in Armand Bayou to hiking at Galveston Island State Park, watching dolphins while riding the ferry between Galveston Island and Bolivar to learning about wetlands at the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center in Baytown, free or affordable family fun is available all around the bay.

The more we appreciate and learn about the bay, the better stewards we can all be. Today's kids that experience the bay will be tomorrow's leaders who protect it. So get out and enjoy!

Click on these great resources:


Green Tip for the Week of August 15, 2011
Don't Let Precious Water Go Down the Drain

At all times, but especially during this drought, we should do our best not to waste water. For the average family, toilet flushing accounts for most of the water used inside the home. For a long-term solution, you can install high-efficiency toilets to decrease the water utilized with each flush.

But one easy thing you can do today to save water is checking for leaks by placing a leak-detection dye tablet or a drop of food coloring into your toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl, then you know you have a leak. Fixing a leaking toilet can save up to hundreds of gallons of water a day.

Learn more about this and other tips by clicking on the following resources:


Green Tip for the Week of August 8, 2011
Low Maintenance Groundcovers

Instead of fighting to keep that grass lawn alive during our Texas droughts, or in areas that are too shady such as under live oaks and other dense canopy trees, try groundcovers. Groundcovers are low-growing plants that can replace turf areas. Natives and other appropriate species are adapted to our local climate. Some are for sunny areas and some are for shady areas. But all are beautiful, easy to maintain, and provide habitat for beneficial insects and other local critters. Check the following resources to learn more:


Green Tip for the Week of August 1, 2011
Hurricane Season Preparation: Recycle or Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste

Household hazardous wastes (HHW) can end up in the bay as a result of storm surge and flooding. Items such as paints and stains, automotive lubricants, pesticides, and fertilizers can ultimately pollute the water and harm fish and wildlife resources and people. Please take stock of your HHW and recycle or properly dispose of those that you do not plan to use. Take them to a permanent HHW collection center or keep them in a safe, dry location until a collection day is available in your area. Check the following resources to learn more about HHW and find collection locations:


Green Tip for the Week of July 11, 2011
Green Travel

If you are trying to get that vacation in before the summer is over, you can travel green!

Check out the following tips from Independent Traveler.com.  Also click on their Go Green Travel Center.


Green Tip for the Week of July 4, 2011
Where to Recycle Metal

Wondering where you can recycle aluminum, tin, steel, lead and other metal items such as clothes hangers, pots and pans, old appliances, etc.?

Click on http://earth911.com/ and enter "metal" and your zip code to find recycling locations. JUST BE SURE to contact the facility and confirm they take these materials and the business hours before you drive out to their location.

Earth 911 also has a very good general information section on metal recycling.


Green Tip for the Week of June 27, 2011
Provide Water for Birds

With the drought we have been having, our feathered friends could use some help right now. Provide them a source of clean water at your house. You do not need a fancy setup, just one that mimics the shallow pools that birds use naturally to drink and bathe. Bringing birds to your yard provides enjoyment and natural predators of insects.

Click on the following links to find out more:


Green Tip for the Week of June 20, 2011
Don't Mow Too Low to Save Your Lawn and Lower Your Water Bill!

Summer officially arrives Tuesday, although you wouldn't know it from the heat and drought we have already experienced. Here are some lawn mowing tips that will reduce the stress on your grass and the amount of water it needs:

First, do not mow your grass too low. Grass that is mowed at the proper height has a healthier root system and uses less water than a lawn that is cut close to the ground. Set your mower to the recommended heights referred to below, or even higher.

Second, do cut off too much at each cutting. Mow often enough so that you do not cut off any more than 1/3 of the grass length to ease stress during our area's hot summers.

Third, don't bag your grass clippings; leave them on the lawn. You'll allow nature to work by recycling nutrients that are released as the clippings decay back to the earth and build healthy soil. This is much more aesthetically pleasing if you do not mow too low and easiest if you use a mulching mower.

In addition to using less water, healthy grass needs less fertilizer, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Bottom line, you spend less money and prevent harmful pollutants from running off your lawn and into our waterways by not mowing too low! Find out how low to mow different types of grass and other helpful hints using these links:

If someone else maintains your yard, please tell them to follow these guidelines. Also be sure to see our May 23rd and June 6th tips for more green lawn ideas.


Green Tip for the Week of June 13, 2011
Go Green This Father's Day

Go green this Father's Day with Earth-friendly gifts for dad. Whether it's a gift membership to the Galveston Bay Foundation or a donation in his name, you can help fathers become protectors of our fragile planet by giving them something green. Here are some other gift ideas:

Also see our April 12, 2010 tip on rechargeable and electric lawn and garden equipment!


Green Tip for the Week of June 6, 2011
Top Dress Your Lawn

If you have already aerated your lawn (see our May 23rd tip) you are on your way to a healthier, more environmentally-friendly yard. If you try this week's tip, your lawn and the soil that underlies it will be healthier and require even less water.

Top dress it with compost!

Find out more by clicking on the links below:


Green Tip for the Week of May 30, 2011
Deep-Root Watering for Healthier Trees

This drought is making it tough to establish trees, shrubs, and lawns. As far as trees go, they already have a hard time establishing their roots in typical urban and suburban land which is often comprised of poor quality, compacted fill material. Just like last week when we gave you a tip to improve your grass by aerating it, here is a tip to make your trees healthier through getting the water and nutrients to the roots!

Deep-root watering…

Find out more by clicking on the links below:


Green Tip for the Week of May 23, 2011
Aerate Your Lawn, and Save Water!

Lawn watering bill got you down? Did you know that aerating your lawn can save you money and help protect the environment? There are other things you can do with your lawn to do both!

Find out more by clicking on the links below:


Green Tip for the Week of May 16, 2011
Harvest Rainwater!

It will rain again. Be ready to capture that rainwater in a home rain barrel and use it to water your lawn and garden. You will save money in the long run while you help protect the environment! Find out more by clicking on the links below:


Green Tip for the Week of May 9, 2011
Be the Eyes on the Waterways and the Bay. Report Spills, Dumping and Fish Kills!

You can help protect our bayous, creeks, rivers and Galveston Bay by reporting accidental spills and intentional dumping of wastes and toxins.

Examples of accidental spills include sanitary sewer overflows and leaking oil or other automotive products from drums and containers or a break in a pipeline. Examples of intentional activities include the dumping of oil down a gutter or on land; silt-fencing that is removed or altered so that dirty rainwater runoff flows from a construction site into the streets; and a discharge pipe that runs from a home or business into a drainage ditch.

Whether intentional or not, the one thing these activities have in common is the potential to pollute our environment and threaten the health of people, plants and animals.

What can you do? Be the eyes on the waterways and report these activities to local, state or federal authorities. Click on these links to get to the right authorities:

For Galveston County pollution complaints, contact the Galveston County Health District (http://www.gchd.org/pollution/complaints.htm#water) at (409) 938-2251.

For Harris County pollution complaints, contact Harris County Pubic Health and Environmental Services (http://www.hcphes.org/eph/water_complaint.htm) at (713) 439--6000.

For pollution complaints anywhere in the area, you can contact the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Environmental Complaint System (http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/complaints/index.html) at 1-888-777-3186, 24 hours a day.

For oil and chemical spills and dumping, you can also contact the Texas General Land Office Oil Spill Prevention and Response Program (http://www.glo.state.tx.us/oilspill/) at 1-800-832-8224 and the Federal National Response Center Spill Hotline (http://www.nrc.uscg.mil/nrchp.html) at 1-800-424-8802, both 24- hours a day.

For fish kills, contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Kills and Spills Team 24-Hour Communication Center (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/environconcerns/kills_and_spills/regions/kas_r4.phtml) at (512) 389-4848.


Green Tip for the Week of May 2, 2011
Help Protect Galveston Bay’s Wetlands!

May is American Wetlands Month, so please help protect these valuable resources! Wetlands provide critical habitat for over 95% of the recreationally- and commercially- important fish and shellfish species seeking food and shelter in our bays and estuaries after they are born in the Gulf of Mexico. Wetlands also cleanse the water naturally, trapping and absorbing pollutants. Finally, wetlands protect us by dampening storm surges and storing floodwaters.

What can you do to protect them?  Here are some options:


Green Tip for the Week of April 25, 2011
Be an Energy Star!

Help Galveston Bay and your wallet by looking for ENERGY STAR qualified products for your home and business. ENERGY STAR products - appliances, building products, computers and electronics, home heating and cooling units, water heaters, and lighting and fans - use less energy and therefore result in less air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from our power plants. So when it's time to replace these items, please do your part and save some money at the same time. See the ENERGY STAR website for more information.


Green Tip for the Week of April 18, 2011
Earth Day!

Earth Day is this Friday! Help your local environment by taking more action to protect Galveston Bay freshwater inflows! See http://galvbay.org/advocacy_inflows.html.


Green Tip for the Week of April 11, 2011
Native Palm Trees

Just a look around our area shows you that palm trees are very popular.  However, most of the palms you see are not native.  There are actually only two palms native to Texas, and one is found primarily along the lower Rio Grande.  If you are going to plant a palm tree, please first consider planting a native variety.

The Texas palm is native to the Valley and becomes a large tree.  The Dwarf palmetto is a shrub or, in some cases, a small tree.  These plants do provide habitat and food for insects, birds, and mammals and do tolerate cold conditions better than the non-native varieties.

Green Tip for the Week of April 4, 2011
It's for the Birds!

Take part in FeatherFest 2011 in Galveston from Thursday, April 7 through Sunday, April 10. FeatherFest even has free live birds of prey shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! There’s no better way of gaining appreciation of the great Galveston Bay birding than by seeing them up close and personal.

For more information, click on  http://www.galvestonfeatherfest.com/.

Green Tip for the Week of March 28, 2011
A More Earth-Friendly Cup of Joe!

If you drink coffee, you can choose to purchase a more environmentally-friendly product. You can find coffee that is organic and/or shade grown/bird -friendly, as well as a brand certified as being grown with fair trade practices/fair labor standards.

Organically-grown coffee can result in fewer pesticides and energy use to grow the crop, and therefore less air and water pollution. Shade-grown/bird-friendly coffee is grown in the understory of forests with more sustainable practices instead of on a large sun-grown plantation where the forest canopy has been removed. Shade-grown/bird-friendly coffee results in less habitat destruction, soil erosion, and water pollution. For more info, see www.coffeehabitat.com

Try to buy brands that are organic, shade-grown/bird-friendly, and with fair trade/fair labor practices – it is the sustainable thing to do!  Some sources of sustainable coffee include, but certainly not limited to, the following.  Our listing the brands below does not constitute endorsement; it’s just the Green Thing’s way of starting the conversation!


Green Tip for the Week of March 21, 2011
Bash Some Trash this Coming Saturday!

Please take part in Trash Bash 2011 this Saturday, March 26th! Trash Bash is a volunteer litter clean up event held at seventeen locations across the greater Houston-Galveston area. You can help beautify a part of Galveston Bay or the waterway of your choice while having fun!

After the clean up, lunch will be served. Entertainment and door prizes are provided at some locations. T-shirts will be handed out to volunteers on a first-come, first-serve basis. Check with each site for specific details. The Galveston Bay Foundation is hosting the cleanup on the Sims Bayou site, so please come join us or be part of a team at one of the other locations.

Links:


Green Tip for the Week of March 14, 2011
Fix a Leak This Week!

It's so important that we are efficient with our water use! Why? Since Galveston Bay is an estuary that depends on fresh water, we need to keep the water flowing down our rivers as much as possible! Also, if we were more efficient with our water use we would not need to build as many reservoirs that destroy extremely valuable river and bottomland habitat.

You can do something easy to help keep the water flowing in our rivers, and not down the drain. Take part in the WaterSense Program's 'Fix a Leak Week' during March 14-20. It's easy to practice water efficiency; instructions are included! Click on the WaterSense website to find out how!

Also, please take a look at a National Wildlife Federation paper on how water efficiency can prevent river and bottomland habitat destruction and their report on what will happen to our bays if we do not keep the rivers flowing.


Green Tip for the Week of March 7, 2011
Don't Rush to Dispose of Your Brush!

With the harsh winter we just had, you probably have a lot of cutting back to do in your yard.  It's tempting to place yard materials such as tree limbs, brush, cuttings from shrubs, leaves and grass clippings at the curbside for your trash pickup.  But please consider turning what would be a waste into a natural resource!  You have an alternative to placing these materials into the trash: recycle them!  Granted, this is not as easy as placing items in your curbside recycling bin but with a little effort you can do something good with it.  It's not as difficult as you may think.

What you can do if you need to get the materials off of your property:

  • See if your local municipality has separate curbside collection for these materials and if so, hold the brush until then. Or, if you or a neighbor can haul the materials, see if they have a brush collection facility for residents. You can usually call the municipality's public works or solid waste department to find out.

  • Go to Earth 911.com and type in a key word of what you would like to recycle ("yard waste", "brush", "glass clippings", etc.) and your zip code or city to find locations that take yard materials. Please keep in mind there may be a nominal charge, so call the facility before you go.

Or you can use these materials directly in your yard and maintain a more natural cycle:

  • If you have a chipper, chop up the materials and place in a compost bin or rot pile.

  • Keep the grass clippings on your yard; a mulching mower works best for this practice!

  • Use leaves as natural mulch on your shrub and flower beds.

  • Use tree limbs as part of your landscape as natural edging for walkways and flower beds.


Green Tip for the Week of February 28, 2011
Sustainable Furniture?

The Green Thing encourages you to consider the Galveston Bay and nature in your daily routines. You can also help the environment by considering your longer-term activities, such as purchasing furniture. Did you know you can buy environmentally-friendly furniture made from wood grown in sustainable forests or from different types of materials that have a lower impact on the world’s resources?

Help complete the cycle by purchasing sustainable products! Here are some great resources for you:


Green Tip for the Week of February 21, 2011
Support the Texas Bottle Bill 2011!

Many of the Green Thing's past tips involved asking you to help clean up the litter that blights our waterways, Galveston Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico, or preventing it from occurring in the first place. We need to do both, as litter is not only unsightly but can also cause harm to our fish and wildlife.

One easy, but critical thing you can do right now to reduce the amount of beverage containers ending up in the water is to support the Texas Bottle Bill! It will only take you a few minutes. Not only will the bottle bill help the environment, it is a self-sustaining program and will create jobs locally and throughout Texas. Find out more by visiting http://www.texasbottlebill.com/index.html. See GBF's letter of support for Texas Bottle Bill 2011.


Green Tip for the Week of February 14, 2011
What to Do With All That Packaging

Did you know you can recycle all those foam packaging peanuts? Please do not throw them in the trash, as Styrofoam takes forever, if ever, to break down and too often ends up blowing all around on our land and in our waters.

Some UPS Stores recycle them. Click on www.theupsstore.com and see the box near the top right of the page. Be sure to call them first to make sure they take them.


Green Tip for the Week of February 7, 2011
Buy Environmentally-Friendly Flowers for Your Sweetheart, and Other Green Valentine's Day Tips

This Valentine's Day you can help the environment by buying environmentally-friendly flowers for your sweetheart. Flowers that are grown locally and/or grown organically are your best bet if you want to help protect the environment.

Many smaller, local farms practice sustainable agricultural practices that lessen impacts to our land, water, and air resources. Buying local means also that the amount of fossil fuel that is burned in transporting products such as flowers to the market is reduced, resulting in less air and water pollution. Buying from local producers has the added benefit of supporting our area businesses!

Click on the following links to find local farmers markets*:

*Try to call them first to confirm they have flowers. You can also do a web search for organic flowers and find vendors.

Find other green Valentine's Day tips at Eco-Coach and Green Living Tips.


Green Tip for the Week of January 31, 2011
Common Tree Problems and Simple Solutions

You may have had experienced container-grown trees having stunted growth and a lack of vitality, and then mysteriously dying a year or more after they have been planted. There are some simple things you can do when you plant a container-grown tree that will save you later heartache and lost dollars. Trees are so important to our environment and wildlife; we hope you can use this YouTube video tip!


Green Tip for the Week of January 24, 2011
Reasons Why You Shouldn't Prune That Crepe Myrtle!

A lot of extreme crepe myrtle pruning is happening right now. It is not necessary and may even harm the tree. Not only that, but removing limbs and seed heads also takes away food and shelter from some birds common to our area. Winnie Burkett, a well-known local birding expert told the Green Thing that she watches her cardinals and goldfinches eating the seeds and birds such as warblers foraging in the lichens growing on the branches. So keep it natural and consider light pruning only if necessary!

Here are some related tips on pruning crepe myrtles:

Note: The Green Thing recommends you choose native plants over non-natives. Click on Native Plant Society of Texas – Houston Chapter's Information Pages (pdf) and scroll down to document 19 (NICE) to find alternatives to crepe myrtles and other exotics. However, if you already have a crepe myrtle or want to plant one, you should make sure the variety is the right height for your planting site. That way, you won’t have to severely top it to make it fit. The same is true for the native varieties...make sure it fits before purchasing!


Green Tip for the Week of January 17, 2011
Home Heating and Cooling: Thermostats 101!

Save money and energy and help the environment at the same time by heating and cooling your home efficiently. Programmable thermostats can help. Make sure you set it correctly. You can also set your manual thermostat to get these benefits.

Learn more by clicking on Energy Star's Programmable Thermostats for Consumers.


Green Tip for the Week of January 10, 2011
Help Rebuild Brazoria County Sand Dunes This Weekend!

This weekend, please volunteer to help rebuild sand dunes at two Brazoria County beaches!

The Brazoria County Dune Project will be held on January 15, 2011. At 9:00AM, volunteers will meet at Quintana Beach County Park and Stahlman Park in Surfside to rebuild, restore and strengthen our dune line against storm surges by staking Christmas trees to form a sand-catching barrier. There will be a lunch following the staking of the trees. For more information about the Dunes Day project call James at (979) 864-1541.

Also, you still have until January 13th to drop off your Christmas tree for this project; see our December 27, 2010 tip for more information or call (281) 652-1659.


Green Tip for the Week of January 3, 2011
Get New Electronics for Christmas? Recycle Your Old Ones!

If you are replacing electronic items like computers, monitors, televisions, and cell phones don't throw out the old ones! They contain heavy metals such as lead and mercury that can harm fish, wildlife, and humans if disposed of improperly.

Instead, recycle them! Retail outlets and manufacturers make it easy. Or, you can donate it to someone who could really use it!

For more information on recycling, click on:

For information on donating your computer, click on U.S. EPA's eCycle Computers.


Green Tip for the Week of December 27, 2010
Reuse and Recycle Your Real Christmas Tree!

Instead of placing your tree at the curb for disposal in one of our overburdened landfills, donate it for beach restoration. Some cities, counties, and local organizations will take your Christmas tree and place it on the beach to help capture sand and rebuild eroding dunes. Or, you can have your tree recycled into mulch that will be placed in gardens and landscapes. By recycling your tree, you help decrease water use and the application of potentially-polluting fertilizers and pesticides.

NOTE: flocked trees might not be accepted for reuse and recycling, so please check first. If you have a flocked tree, consider getting an unflocked tree green next year.

Click on the link below to find where to take your tree for beach restoration (consider collecting trees from your neighbors and multiply your positive impact):

Click on the links below to find out how to recycle your tree into mulch:

  • City of Houston / Living Earth Technologies 2010 Christmas Tree Recycling. NOTE: they do not accept flocked trees.
  • Atascosita area Christmas tree recycling.
  • Keep Pearland Beautiful / City of Pearland curbside pick-up.
  • If you do not see your area listed, click on Earth 911.com and enter Christmas Tree and your zip code in the search function to find other locations. Please always call the facility listed before you go there to make sure the information posted on the webpage is accurate.

If your local government does not recycle the trees, please ask them why!


Green Tip for the Week of December 20, 2010
Have a Green Holiday!

Have a green holiday! 'Tis the season for buying gifts and celebrating. It is also the season when we create some big unintended consequences for the environment. So please follow some simple tips to lessen your impact... and even do something positive for Galveston Bay and the planet.

Green gift-giving ideas and tips:


Green Tip for the Week of December 13, 2010
Take Action Now to Protect Galveston Bay!

Every now and then, we ask citizens to take action to protect the health of the bay when pending regulatory action threatens it.Now is one of those times! The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's proposed environmental flows rule puts the future of Galveston Bay and its economic and quality of life values at great risk! But you can help us fight for a rule that protects the health of Galveston Bay for future generations by submitting a comment letter by December 20th! It's easy! Click here for more details.


Green Tip for the Week of November 29, 2010
Cold Weather is on the Way! Weatherize Your Home and Help the Bay!

Cold fronts are starting to make their way to the Upper Texas Gulf Coast on a regular basis. While we do not have North Dakota, or even North Dallas weather, we do kick on the furnace often from December through February. Weatherize your home to cut your heating costs now and for many winters to come... and help the bay the bay at the same time.

By simply adding attic insulation, sealing cracks and gaps in door and windows, and tuning up your heating system, you can make heating your home more efficient and help reduce the amount of energy that needs to be produced at our local power plants. That means less fossil fuel emissions to the air and less atmospheric deposition of those same pollutants to Galveston Bay.

If you use a wood burning fireplace, please make sure the chimney is clean of sooty deposits so it performs safely and more efficiently. When you are not using your fireplace, close the flue and block the hearth to prevent heat from escaping up the chimney.

Click on the following links to learn more:


Green Tip for the Week of November 22, 2010
Give Thanks for the Environment with an Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving!

Give thanks for Galveston Bay and the environment by celebrating an eco-friendly Thanksgiving. There are easy, sustainability-minded things you can do that will lessen your footprint on the planet as you feast!

What can you do to have a green Thanksgiving?


Green Tip for the Week of November 15, 2010
Texas Recycles Day

November 15th is Texas Recycles Day! You can celebrate today by taking part at Texas Recycles Day events in the Houston-Galveston area. You can celebrate everyday by practicing the Four Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle, rebuy.

For more information, go to the Texas Recycles Day webpage. You can also check our Green Thing Tip for the Week of April 13, 2009 about recycling.


Green Tip for the Week of November 8, 2010
How to Create a More Natural Tree Canopy

Last week, we encouraged you to plant trees to help the environment and save money on your energy bills. This week, we provide some tips on how to create a more natural tree canopy. To do that, you need to select the right types and species of trees and plant them in the right place.

Take a look at the tree canopy on some of our more naturally managed parks. You will see a high canopy of tree tops, or overstory layer above a lower layer of smaller trees and other plants that make up the understory. Creating a multiple layer canopy with large tress along with shade-tolerant smaller trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines, and grasses results in a functioning urban ecosystem that benefits birds and other local wildlife.

There are many terrific large native trees that you can plant. We recommend that you reduce your turf areas and try to plant underneath them a garden of shade-tolerant native shrubs (e.g. Turk’s cap), ground covers (e.g. pigeonberry), grasses (e.g. inland sea oats), vines (e.g. crossvine) and flowers (e.g. purple coneflower). However, if you like turf grass underneath your trees then you need to adjust the trees you plant, opting for species that let more sunlight pass through (e.g. Loblolly pine). Perhaps you can find some middle ground and leave a smaller open turf area that is surrounded by a native plant garden.

Click on the links to learn more:


Green Tip for the Week of November 1, 2010
Plant Trees to Help the Environment and Save Money

Want to improve the environment and save on energy costs? Plant trees! Planting native and suitable non-invasive adapted trees can help Galveston Bay! Trees planted on the south and west sides of your house can provide needed shade and reduce temperatures and your electric bill. Trees also reduce soil erosion, take up carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for beneficial insects, birds, and other animals.

Try to choose from natives first. You do not wait for the Spring to plant trees. In fact, planting trees in the Fall gives them a good head start on being established before the heat of next Summer. You can plant trees in our area from throughout the Fall and Winter, starting in November. You should have them in the ground no later than March to give them the best chance at survival and to reduce the amount of water you'll need to give them.

Click on the links to learn more:


Green Tip for the Week of October 25, 2010
Have a Happy (and Green) Halloween!

With Halloween quickly approaching, you are probably stocking up on treats for the kiddos, deciding on costumes, and buying decorations. But don't play a trick on the environment! You can have a sustainable, Galveston Bay-friendly Halloween by being choosy about items you make or buy for this holiday, following the principles of the 4 Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle and rebuy.

What can you do to have a green Halloween?

  • Substitute reusable cloth bags or pillow cases for childrens' plastic Halloween bags or reuse bags you already have on hand.
  • Buy treats with as little packaging as possible; give simple treats that have paper wrappers if possible.
  • Make your own costumes out of used clothing.
  • Compost your pumpkin.

Click on About.com's Green Halloween Tips to learn more! Please do your part! Remember, all we can do is be responsible for our own actions and consider that even small steps can add up!


Green Tip for the Week of October 18, 2009
It's Texas Native Plant Week. Celebrate with a Fall Planting!

This week you can celebrate the second annual Texas Native Plant Week! Join the celebration by planting native varieties now! Fall is the best time to place many native plants in your garden. Native plants are beautiful and hardy, Galveston Bay- and wildlife-friendly, and can save you money!

Natives are adapted to our extreme weather and insect and fungal pests. So you will not have to water them once established nor apply expensive and potentially polluting pesticides and fungicides. Not only that, native plants provide food and shelter for a host of colorful and melodic birds; beneficial insects such as butterflies, dragon flies, bees; and small animals like lizards and frogs.

Click on the links to learn more:


Green Tip for the Week of October 11, 2010
For Your Consideration: Organically-Grown Fruits and Vegetables

You may want to do some research on the value of consuming organic fruits and vegetables. Not only is organic produce purported to be better for your health, organic farming methods can result in less pollution to our water, land, and air. Take a look at GrowingRaw’s List of Healthy Food to Always Eat Organic and other sources and decide for yourself.


Green Tip for the Week of October 4, 2010
What Do The Numbers on Plastic Containers Mean?

You may have wondered what those numbers on plastic bottles and other containers mean. The number inside the recycling symbol refers to the type of plastic that was used to manufacture the container. Not all plastics are the same… some are more easily recycled than others and some are purported to be less harmful to the environment and human health. You can help the environment, and perhaps protect your health, by purchasing items based on the type of plastic used in the packaging and by safely using the plastics you already have on hand.

Find out more by clicking on following the Daily Green’s What Do Recycling Symbols on Plastics Mean?.


Green Tip for the Week of September 27, 2010
Be a Green Consumer!

Tuesday, September 28th is World Green Consumer Day. This day is a reminder that we can all lessen our impact on the earth, including Galveston Bay, by the choices we make as purchasers of everyday goods. There are many simple steps that you can take; many have been mentioned in our past green tips. Green choices do not have to mean higher costs, but even if some items such as organic produce do cost a little more they can be better for your long-term health. You can find some great, simple ideas in U.S. News and World Report’s Personal Finance article: A Blueprint for Becoming a Green Consumer.


Green Tip for the Week of September 20, 2010
Celebrate National Estuaries Day!

Galveston Bay is an estuary, a place where freshwaters from our rivers and bayous meet the salty water of the Gulf of Mexico. A place teeming with life. A water body that provides recreation, jobs, and beauty. Celebrate Galveston Bay all this week and on Saturday, September 25th - National Estuaries Day.

How can you celebrate National Estuaries Day?

  • Get out and enjoy the bay with your friends and family! Look for dolphins while you ride the Bolivar Ferry; go birding; visit a park or wildlife refuge; kayak, canoe or boat; enjoy a meal near the bay...
  • Visit estuaries.gov where you can learn all about Estuaries Day and things you can do to help protect estuaries.
  • Become a member of the Galveston Bay Foundation.
  • Volunteer with the Galveston Bay Foundation to help the bay.

Green Tip for the Week of September 13, 2010
Make Plans to Attend Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup on the 25th!

The Texas General Land Office’s Fall Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup will be held on Saturday, September 25th from 9:00am-12:00 noon at locations all along the Texas coast, including nine locations in the Houston region. You can help clean a beach, a bay shore, or a bayou shoreline. Please make plans to join your fellow citizens to clean up some of our local shorelines and have some fun while doing it. Find out more at GLO’s Adopt-a-Beach webpage.


Green Tip for the Week of September 6, 2010
Reduce Your Boat Wake and Help Save Shorelines

This Labor Day weekend, hundreds of people enjoyed the Redfish Raft Up at the restored Redfish Island in Galveston Bay. Redfish had been lost after years of erosion and subsidence. Many of our back bay, bayou, and creek shorelines are also suffering erosion problems, in part due to wakes from boats and personal watercraft.

This erosion destroys habitat by uprooting shoreline vegetation and the resulting sedimentation harms water quality and aquatic life. If you boat or use personal watercraft in our waters, please slow down to reduce or eliminate your boat wake and stay away from shorelines. Save the higher speeds and skiing for more open water areas where less damage may result. And always observe no wake zones. Following these guidelines will help protect our estuarine environment and make it safer for all who enjoy water recreation.

Find more responsible boating tips in Boat Ed’s Handbook of Texas Boating Laws and Responsibilities.


Green Tip for the Week of August 30, 2010
Free Water for Your Garden!

Collect the condensate draining from your home air conditioner. You may be surprised how much water is produced – anywhere from a gallon or so to tens of gallons a day. Use it to water your plants! Note: This water is not potable and is not for human or pet drinking purposes! For more information, click on the following links:


Green Tip for the Week of August 23, 2010
Only Water Should Go Down Storm Drains

Did you know that water that flows down our storm drains is not cleaned at a treatment plant? Litter and granular fertilizers and pesticides can run off with rainwater and pollute our area ditches, bayous and streams, and ultimately Galveston Bay. Even grass clippings and leaves can cause problems and clog drains and cause localized flooding. Please help prevent this from happening. See Clean Water Clear Choice’s Garbage In Garbage Out brochure (PDF) for more information. And take a look at Clean Water Clear Choice’s other downloads for other great tips.


Green Tip for the Week of August 16, 2010
Where to Recycle Glass

Many cities no longer recycle glass at curbside pickup, citing safety issues. But buying drinks and other items in glass containers is still an environmentally-wise choice - if you can recycle the containers after use. Another benefit is that the lids on glass containers are often recyclable metal. You can recycle both! Click on http://earth911.com/ and enter “glass” and your zip code to find recycling locations. You can do the same for metal lids and other materials. JUST BE SURE to contact the facility and confirm they take these materials before you drive out there.


Green Tip for the Week of August 9, 2010
Home Cooling Tips (continued): Insulate

To help you keep your cool, lower your energy bills, and help the environment by reducing the burning of fossil fuels, be sure that you have enough insulation in your attic. What kind do you need? How much do you need?

Find out more by clicking on Energy Star - Air Seal and Insulate.


Green Tip for the Week of August 2, 2010
Another Tip to Help You Keep Your Cool and Help the Earth

As the hot dog days of summer continue, you may have noticed that parts of your home are much warmer than other areas. West- or south-facing rooms are exposed to much more solar heating than other parts of your home. And rooms over garages can also heat up more than other rooms. You can take some steps to permanently reduce this problem, and help the environment, if you do it right.

For rooms disproportionately heated by the sun, consider adding solar screens and plant shade trees that will provide habitat and help improve our air quality. For rooms above garages, it gets trickier. You can possibly add foam sheet insulation on the inside of the garage door, insulate the space between garage ceiling and room floor, or even add an exhaust fan in the garage. You should to consider contacting a contractor for the latter two garage solutions.

Find out more by clicking on Energy Star - Hot or Cold Room.


Green Tip for the Week of July 26, 2010
Maintain Your A/C and Don't Break a Sweat

One simple thing you can do to keep cool this summer, and help the environment at the same time, is to maintain your home cooling system by changing the air filter on a regular basis. A dirty air filter reduces air flow and makes your A/C work harder than necessary - wasting energy and costing you more in higher bills. Find out more by clicking on Energy Star - Heat and Cool Efficiently.


Green Tip for the Week of July 19, 2010
Set the Example by Cleaning a Little Piece of Shoreline...

Don't you hate seeing litter on our bay shores, beach, and jetties? It can ruin an outing. While it is certainly not your responsibility to pick up someone else's litter, it is a good thing to do for our feathered friends and other aquatic creatures.

Why should you do it? Some litter like plastic bottles and bags and styrofoam cups and containers lasts virtually forever - at least 500 years! Other examples: cigarette butts last about 12 years, disposable diapers last 75-80 years, and tin cans last about 100-500 years. Besides ruining a nice beach or shoreline view, some of these items are mistaken by sea turtles, dolphins, and whales for food. After ingesting the litter, these wonderful creatures can die from the obstruction in their digestive system. Marine mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish can all become entangled in discarded fishing line and six-pack rings and die.

By simply taking a trash bag and filling it up before you hit the water, you make that small stretch of your shoreline a litte more beautiful and you can set a great example to others. If you think your impact will be small, then think of your cleaning a little strip of shoreline as a way to keep one less sea turtle or other creature from dying. And who knows... maybe people that see your good work will think before they throw their trash. Better yet, maybe they'll help clean up next time. Bonus tip: Take 2 trash bags with you on your next outing - one for recyclable items and one for non-recyclables.

Remember: All we can do is all we can do!


Green Tip for the Week of July 12, 2010
Use Less Toxic Materials Around Your Home...

Use less toxic materials around the house, such as cleansers and laundry items, to better protect your health and the health of Galveston Bay. By switching to less toxic alternatives, you will reduce the amount of household hazardous wastes going to our landfills, groundwater, and streams. Find the easy recipes at CleanWaterways.org (PDF).


Green Tip for the Week of July 5, 2010
Adopt a Waterway, or a Park, or a Street...

Do you want to help Galveston Bay and its tributary waterways, have fun, make new friends, and feel good that you are helping the environment? Then adopt a waterway, a stream, a park, etc. You can help clean these critical waterways that provide habitat and local beauty! Or, you can choose to be a volunteer water quality monitor. Here are some volunteer opportunities. If you do not see your city or county listed, then please ask your elected officials to take a look at these neighboring programs and consider developing similar programs for their own citizens!

Green Tip for the Week of June 28, 2010
Have a Greener 4th of July

We hope you have a fun and safe 4th of July. And we hope you can take some simple steps to make this 4th and other holidays easier on Galveston Bay and our little planet. You can use many of these holiday tips everyday, such as using less disposable dinnerware and packaging or cleaning and reusing plasticware, to help the environment! Find out more at Earth 911.com's 8 Ways to Green 4th of July.


Green Tip for the Week of June 21, 2010
Feeling Frustrated and Helpless Over the Gulf Spill? Then Read Part 2 of How You Can Help.

Many of us feel frustration and a sense of helplessness over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Two weeks ago on June 7th, we posted a tip on what you can do to help fight the spill's impacts directly. But you can also help in an indirect ways by changing personal habits that reduce your fossil-fuel derived energy consumption.

If you look through our 70 Green Tips posted since February 2009, you'll discover a couple of common themes. First, if we all act as individuals to lessen our environmental impacts then we have each done all we can and, taken all together, our individual actions can add up to big, positive changes for Galveston Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and the world beyond. Second, if implemented, many of our tips would reduce fossil fuel demand and the need to extract fossil fuels in increasingly riskier areas.

All of the following examples will result in your using less non-renewable energy: using native plants that do not require so much water, fertilizers, and pesticides; going organic; substituting reusable bags and containers for disposable plastic items; using less water (it takes a lot of energy to produce potable water); driving less; switching to more fuel-efficient vehicles, adjusting the thermostat, etc. The list goes on and on.

We all depend on fossil-fuels and they are crucial to our quality of life in the near term. But we can use less and help bridge the gap to more renewable sources and at the same time, help clean the air, land, and water of other forms of pollution that result from the refining and use of petroleum products.


Green Tip for the Week of June 14, 2010
Go Green This Father's Day

Go green this Father's Day with Earth-friendly gifts for dad. Whether it's a gift membership to the Galveston Bay Foundation or a donation in his name, you can help fathers become protectors of our fragile planet by giving them something green. Here are some other gift ideas:

And see our April 12th tip on rechargeable and electric lawn and garden equipment!


Green Tip for the Week of June 7, 2010
How You Can Help with the BP Oil Spill

Green Tip for the Week of May 31, 2010
Harvest Rainwater!

We are heading into the hot, dry days of summer. But we still have heavy downpours from time to time. Capture that rainwater in a home rain barrel and use it to water your lawn and garden. You will save money in the long run while you help protect the environment! Find out more by clicking on the links below:

Green Tip for the Week of May 24, 2010
Please Attend the 2010 Coastal Resiliency Symposium on May 26th!

When it comes to planning for future hurricane storm surges, the environmental future is ours to shape right now! Experts and decision-makers are starting to set in motion ways to protect man-made infrastructure from storms like Hurricane Ike. Will these solutions take the form of structural options such as the Ike Dike proposal or non-structural options like planning and insurance reform, or a combination of both?

Please attend the 2010 Coastal Resiliency Symposium on May 26th at Rice University so you can learn about the threats, our vulnerabilities, and what the experts are considering for our Upper Texas Coast area so you can have a voice in the direction taken! Find out more at http://www.rpts.tamu.edu/CoastalResilience/.


Green Tip for the Week of May 10, 2010
If You Fish, Try Using Circle Hooks!

If you want to catch fish and also safely release the ones that are not legal size, use circle hooks. They work well and result in fewer fish being hooked in the gills or gut. J-shaped hooks and treble hooks cause more injury and mortality to fish. Whether you catch fish to eat or to release, circle hooks are a good choice! Find out more:


Green Tip for the Week of May 3, 2010
Help Protect Wetlands!

May is American Wetlands Month, so please help protect these valuable resources! Wetlands provide critical habitat for over 95% of the recreationally- and commercially- important fish and shellfish species seeking food and shelter in our bays and estuaries after they are born in the Gulf of Mexico. Wetlands also cleanse the water naturally, trapping and absorbing pollutants. Finally, wetlands protect us by dampening storm surges and storing floodwaters.

How can you help? Please become a member of the Galveston Bay Foundation and/or make a donation online. The Foundation actively advocates for wetland protection and offers volunteer wetland restoration events like Marsh Mania. In partnership with federal, state, local and non-profit partners, we have protected and restored about 15,000 acres of wetlands in the Galveston Bay area since the year 2000!

Learn more about wetlands by clicking on these links:

Click here to view previous Green Thing weekly tips.