Category Archives: Uncategorized
Hot Tips for a Cool Summer
Enjoy the outdoors this summer while saving money, cutting energy costs, and protecting your family’s health with these tips from the EPA.
Energy Star Savings for Your Home
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Raising your thermostat by just 2 degrees and using a ceiling fan on low can lower cooling costs by up to 15%.
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Switch out incandescent bulbs with Energy Star lighting—they use less energy and produce 75% less heat.
Increase Your Gas Mileage
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Reduce idling, obey speed limits, avoid hard accelerations, and unload unnecessary items from your trunk.
Prevent Skin Cancer – Be Sun Wise
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Practice safe sun habits. Learn more
Heading to the Beach? Check the Water
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See beach advisories and closures for your area. Learn more
Smartphone Apps
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Get location-specific air quality information and hourly UV forecasts.
Protect Yourself with Insect Repellents
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Mosquitoes and ticks carry diseases—use the right repellents to avoid bites.
Water Wisely
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Up to 30% of outdoor water is wasted due to midday watering. Water in the morning when it’s cooler and winds are calm.
Clean Greener
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Look for EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) label on products for safer cleaning of cars, decks, boats, and grills.
Improve Your Indoor Air
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Remove mold, test for radon, check carbon monoxide detectors, and ask smokers to go outside.
Check into an Energy Star Hotel
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Certified hotels use 35% less energy and emit 35% less greenhouse gas than non-certified hotels.
Waste Less and Recycle More
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Recycled materials like glass can go into asphalt; plastics can be turned into carpeting and park benches.
Season Firewood
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Split, stack, and cover firewood to allow proper air circulation; store for at least 6 months before using.
Looking for a Summer Project? Try Composting
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Composting saves landfill space, feeds the soil, and prevents methane emissions.
Read the full article on our website: Hot Tips for a Cool Summer
The Overuse and Misuse of Pesticides
Pesticide resistance is a growing problem in agriculture, costing billions of dollars in crop losses and chemical use. Known as the “pesticide treadmill,” repeated use of the same chemical leads pests, weeds, and plant pathogens to develop resistance, requiring even more pesticide.
Examples include mosquitoes resistant to malaria-control pesticides, pigweed resistant to Roundup, and hydrilla no longer controlled by its preferred herbicide.
How to apply pesticides responsibly:
- Use mechanical methods and natural products first
- Apply chemicals only as a last resort and in targeted spot treatments
- Use pesticides labeled for the specific pest
- Rotate among different chemical types to prevent resistance
- Choose pest-tolerant plants and remove debris to reduce pest habitats
- Follow mixing and application instructions carefully
Read the full article: The Overuse and Misuse of Pesticides
June is Invasive Species Month in Wisconsin
Invasive species are non-native plants, animals, or insects that can damage ecosystems because they lack natural predators. Wisconsin’s NR40 rule helps residents identify, prevent, and control invasives like Eurasian watermilfoil, northern snakehead, and round goby.
The DNR emphasizes five best practices for landowners and visitors:
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Prevention – Inspect clothing and gear, avoid known infested areas, clean equipment, and plant only native species.
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Early Detection & Rapid Response – Report sightings quickly to reduce spread.
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Containment & Removal – Use integrated pest management to slow and remove invaders.
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Monitoring – Regularly check affected areas to catch return infestations.
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Restoration – Rehabilitate affected sites to help ecosystems recover.
Everyone in Wisconsin—residents, landowners, and outdoor enthusiasts—plays a role in keeping ecosystems healthy by following these steps.
Learn more about Wisconsin’s invasive species and reporting: DNR Invasive Species
Northern Snakehead
World Environment Day 2012
World Environment Day (WED), celebrated annually on June 5th, was established by the United Nations in 1972 to promote environmental awareness and sustainable living. This year’s theme, “Green Economy: Does it Include You?”, encourages global action for a more sustainable way of doing business.
There are many ways to participate, from planting trees, organizing clean-ups, joining environmental groups, to promoting recycling and education. Every small action helps protect the planet and inspires others to do the same.
Read the full article and see ways to celebrate: World Environment Day Alphabet
Aquatic Invasive Species: Hydrilla
Hydrilla, native to Africa, has become a widespread invasive aquatic plant in U.S. waters. It forms dense mats that interfere with recreation and harm fish and wildlife habitats. Hydrilla spreads easily via seeds and fragments, making control challenging.
Management methods include:
Biological: Grass carp consume hydrilla but may also eat native plants.
Chemical: Herbicides are effective but can cause oxygen depletion and resistance.
Physical: Hand pulling, drawdowns, and aeration are labor-intensive.
Mechanical: Aquatic weed harvesters cut and remove hydrilla, providing immediate, environmentally friendly results while preventing nutrient buildup.
Read the full article on our website: Hydrilla Control
Celebrate Earth Day and Raise your Environmental Consciousness
Earth Day, inspired by Gaylord Nelson in 1970, highlights the importance of protecting our air, water, and natural resources. You can make a difference by taking small, everyday actions:
- Plant a tree or start a garden to improve air quality and reduce your carbon footprint.
- Pick up litter to help clean your community.
- Conserve energy and water by using microwaves, taking shorter showers, or leaving the car at home.
- Recycle and compost to reduce waste and create healthy soil.
- Support environmental organizations through donations or volunteering.
Simple, conscious actions collectively make a big impact on the environment.
Read the full article on our website: Celebrate Earth Day
Algae to Fuel your Automobile
Algenol Biofuels in Florida produces ethanol from algae, using sunlight, CO₂, and saltwater. Unlike harmful algae blooms in lakes, the algae for ethanol is grown in controlled, sealed systems, allowing efficient fuel production without using freshwater or prime farmland.
This process not only creates renewable fuel but also recycles CO₂, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While challenges remain for large-scale adoption, algae-based ethanol shows promise as a sustainable alternative energy source.
Read the full article on our website: Algae to Fuel Your Automobile
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Speak at Carroll University
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., president of the Waterkeeper Alliance, spoke at Carroll University as part of the school’s Year of Water series. His lecture, “Our Environmental Destiny,” highlighted the importance of protecting natural resources and showed how energy independence can go hand-in-hand with environmental stewardship.
Kennedy’s work spans the Waterkeeper Alliance, NRDC, Hudson Riverkeeper, and environmental legal advocacy for indigenous communities, emphasizing global efforts to preserve water and natural resources for future generations.
Read the full article on our website: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at Carroll University
Farmers Face Tough Choice on Ways to Fight New Strains of Weeds
New strains of herbicide-resistant weeds, like Palmer Amaranth (pigweed), are challenging farmers across the U.S. Traditional chemicals like Glyphosate (Roundup) are no longer effective, forcing farmers to explore multiple management strategies, including alternate herbicides and non-chemical approaches.
Experts warn that relying solely on new genetically engineered crops may lead to an endless cycle of resistance, emphasizing the need for sustainable weed management practices.
Read the full article on our website: Farmers Face Tough Choices on Ways to Fight New Strains of Weeds
World Water Day, March 22
World Water Day, observed annually on March 22, highlights the importance of freshwater and sustainable management of water resources. It encourages global awareness, action, and solutions to challenges such as water pollution, scarcity, and the protection of aquatic ecosystems.
Aquarius Systems supports healthy waterways by providing tools and solutions to manage aquatic plants and maintain water quality.
Read the full article on our website: World Water Day, March 22
Aquarius Systems 