Vampires at Sandy Island?

A "phantom load" is any appliance or electronic gizmo that uses energy even when turned off. Some people call them "vampire appliances" or "energy vampires."

Surprise -- most American appliances use electricity even when turned off. because the "off" button doesn't really mean "off." Yes, even chargers for cell phones and MP3 players siphon energy when plugged in - even if they're not charging a thing!Read about phantom load, stand-by power or vampire load

http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/definitions/Phantom-Load

Global Warming in New Hampshire

http://www.carboncoalition.org/
New Hampshire Carbon Coalition
New Hampshire Citizens for Responsible Energy Policy

New Hampshire is profoundly affected by global warming. Scientists have documented changes in the local climate and have studied the impacts. More...

At risk:

• Human Health
• Recreation and Tourism (skiing, fall foliage)
• Forests and Agriculture
• Coastal Communities
• Economic Growth

Smart energy choices and policies not only safeguard the stability of our climate; they provide energy independence, a stronger economy and a better quality of life for our citizens.

The keys:

• Energy Efficiency
• Transportation
• Renewable Energy
• Carbon Dioxide Ups and Downs
• Tracking Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Unhealthy haze over Northeast's wilderness

By William M. Hill | Boston Globe July 3, 2005

HIKING WITH ME in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains in June, my 9-year-old son took a header on a rocky trail. A well-stocked first aid kit and a fellow hiker who happened to be a physician made blessedly quick work of a head wound that will leave my son with nothing more than a neat scar and a blood-stained baseball cap -- both things he already brags about. There is something more ominous, though, that any parent of children who are hiking or exercising outdoors should be concerned about: unhealthy air.

Many of us look to escape in summer to places like the White Mountains and Acadia National Park, expecting clean air and endless views. The reality on our public lands in New England is often shockingly different. There, high haze levels and diminished views are vivid reminders that we are at a time in our planet's history when there is no promise of finding good, clean ''country air."

Each summer in the Northeastern United States, regional haze, primarily caused by sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-burning power plants in the Midwest, cuts visibility in the most scenic of our national parks and wilderness areas by up to 70 percent. Humid summer conditions in the Northeast cause particulates to expand and exacerbates the pollution-induced haze.

Read more.

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William M. Hill is president of the Board of Directors of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Leave No Trace (LNT)

Leave No Trace is an national and international program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or climb. The program strives to educate all those who enjoy the outdoors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations.

Leave No Trace™ (LNT) is a philosophy of backcountry recreation that stresses leaving the wilderness as untouched as possible by your visit. It’s also a program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts understand and minimize their recreational impacts on the land.

Leave No Trace, Inc.

CORE VALUES

1. Is committed to the enjoyment, health and protection of recreational resources on natural lands for all people;

2. Believes that education is the best means to protect natural lands from recreational impacts while helping maintain access for recreation and enjoyment;

3. Is founded on outdoor ethics whereby a sense of stewardship is gained through understanding and connecting with the natural world;

4. Believes that practicing the Leave No Trace principles is the most relevant and effective long-term solution to maintaining the beauty, health of, and access to natural lands;

5. Is science-based and builds ethical, pragmatic approaches to resource protection for varying types of outdoor recreation and enjoyment;

6. Strives to build key partnerships that support education programs, training and communities of volunteers, educators, land managers, organizations and corporations committed to teaching and instilling the values of Leave No Trace;

7. Is inclusive, for all people, and focused on all non-motorized recreation activities occurring on natural lands;

8. Is apolitical and dedicated to education;

9. Does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, marital status, military status or disability;

10. Remains committed to its mission, core values, projects and programs without deviation.

AMC partners with Leave No Trace, Inc. to promote responsible outdoor recreation. Leave No Trace, Inc. has established the seven Leave No Trace Principles that serve as guidelines for those who enjoy outdoor recreation.

You can learn more about AMC’s committment to LNT on the AMC Leave No Trace web page.

What Does Global Warming Mean for the Northeast?

Global warming is a social issue that presents, individually and collectively, grave problems and greater opportunities. It means necessary change: the question becomes, do we ignore or minimize the problems, and watch our landscapes, economies and quality of life alter and erode; or do we make proactive changes in our energy choices and technologies, thereby creating economic opportunity, more sustainable local ecosystems, and a more peaceful, equitable world for our children? Clean Air-Cool Planet is working to help the Northeast lead the way in demonstrating both the need for, and benefits of, global warming solutions. http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org

SI DRAFT GRANT APPLICATION

Click on title for draft grant application (version April 26, 2008) for the new project:  That's Amore: Caring for Sandy, also known as the SI Sustainability Project.

Please feel free to edit and contribute to the details for goals, activities, timeline, budget, etc. 

Ellie 617 965-9637

RECYCLING $$$

Research by Trish Moody (Week 7), 2007

I FIGURE EACH WEEK WE THROW AWAY ABOUT 175 X 7 X 2 - 3 THAT'S 2450 BOTTLES OR CANS PER WEEK, MULTIPLIED BY 9 WEEKS PLUS LABOR DAY PLUS NORTHWOODS, ETC.

ALUMINUM PRICES AS YOU KNOW HAVE BEEN ROCKETING UPWARDS ALONG WITH ALL OTHER METALS - HAVEN;T CHECKED WHAT'S GOING ON WITH PLASTICS - BUT THERE'S MONEY IN THEM THERE ALUMINUM OR PLASTIC CONTAINERS - NOT INCLUDING CONTAINERS THE KITCHEN USES AND VARIOUS OTHER THINGS WE BRING OVER - WINE BOTTLES FOR INSTANCE AND THROW AWAY. $$$$$$$$$$$$

AFTER CAMP I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH. NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS MANY, MANY ACTIVE RECYCLING PROGRAMS. I TALKED WITH THE HEAD OF THE TUFTONBORO RECYCLING CENTER WHO EXPLAINED THEIR PROCESS - YOU NEED A STICKER - AND WHO TOLD ME THAT NORTH WOODS DOES INDEED TAKE RECYCLING MATERIALS TO THEM. THE RECYCLING CENTER DOES NOT PAY US FOR THE ALUMINUM - THEY SELL IT AND USE THE $89,000 THEY COLLECT PER MONTH FOR THE TOWN, SO IT'S A PROFITABLE OPERATION. THEY ALSO RECYCLE AND SELL CARDBOARD.

THE DIRECTOR PROMISED TO CALL BACK WITH MORE INFO BUT HE HAS NOT. I CAN FIND MY NOTES AND GIVE THE RECYCLING SALES $$$$$ MANAGER HIS NAME AND PHONE NUMBER AS SOON AS YOU TELL ME WHO TO GIVE IT TO.

THERE ARE OTHER RECYCLING CENTERS IN VARIOUS TOWNS. BUT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE MONEY OFF THE SCRAP METAL AND PLASTIC, YOU WILL HAVE TO DO A BIT MORE RESEARCH TO CONNECT WITH THE GUYS WHO BUY THE RECYCLED MATERIALS - EITHER THE ONES WHO BUY FROM THE TOWNS, OR SOME OTHER DEALERS - , PERHAPS COMBINE THE SANDY ISLAND SCRAP METAL, PLASTIC, GLASS, PAPER AND CARDBOARD, WITH MATERIALS FROM OTHER CAMPS, WHICH WOULD MAKE A NICE VOLUME FOR RESALE. . $$$$$$$ PROBABLY COULD BUY A FEW MORE BEACH CHAIRS....

BEST REGARDS, TRICIA