Sustainability

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Trees, like all plants, absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere during photosynthesis to produce sugars for energy and growth. The carbon from the CO2 is stored in the tree’s biomass, including its wood, leaves, roots, and branches. When trees die, decompose, or are burned, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere as CO2, or into the soil. If the forest is maintained, it will regrow, and the trees will once again absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, restarting the cycle. Some of the carbon stored in harvested trees can be transferred to long-lived wood products, such as furniture or buildings, which can store carbon for decades or even centuries. Disturbance events such as fire, insect outbreaks, or disease can also release carbon back into the atmosphere.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. Now is the second-best time.” Sometimes attributed to an ancient Asian proverb and other times cited as a common saying from modern … more

By JODI SMITS-ANDERSON | 3/19/25

Balancing the built environment:

A few years ago, while working with an architecture firm on a sustainability strategy, I sat in a meeting where the tension between cost, time and aesthetics played out in real-time. The firm wanted … more

By KELLEY TAPIA | 3/19/25

Climbing out of the rabbit hole

We have developed the technologies to provide heating, cooling, humidity control and ventilation with very minimal energy use. A key to making this technology work is how well we construct … more

By STEPHEN STUART, CPHT | 3/19/25

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, left, and Representative Rob Bresnahan head up a Sunday, March 2 roundtable.

Luzerne County reps push for end to ‘rain tax’

CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED — During a roundtable held Sunday, March 2, elected officials from Northeast Pennsylvania raised concerns over a “rain tax,” which they said unfairly … more

By LIAM MAYO | 3/3/25

Congressman Rob Bresnahan speaks with the media following a March 2 roundtable, together with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.

Local reps, Trump admin reopen fracking conversation for Delaware River Basin

DELAWARE RIVER BASIN — Local reps and members of the Trump administration have discussed ways to fight the ban on fracking in the Delaware River Basin, in order to return drilling rights to … more

By LIAM MAYO | 3/3/25

PA program offers replacement for invasive species

PENNSYLVANIA —Invasive species pose a significant threat to bio diversity worldwide. Pennsylvania has identified over 250 invasive species—ranging from plants and insects to pathogens and … more

2/27/25

Report gives updates on state of Delaware River Basin

DELAWARE RIVER — On February 21, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) released its 2025 State of the Basin report, which provides an overview of the health of the water resources … more

2/21/25

Former Sullivan rep chosen for EPA administrator

NEW YORK STATE — Former New York State Senator Mike Martucci, who represented District 42 from 2021 to 2022, has been chsen as the Regional Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency … more

2/7/25

Hidden but still mighty, locals Jane Cyphers, Jill Padua, Jim Powell and Linda Rajlevsky were among the over 200 activists who recently converged on Albany to lobby for legislation that would dramatically slash the amount of plastic packaging allowed in the state. The group gathered on the Great Western Staircase in the New York State Capitol for a press conference, then fanned out to meet with legislators. The Sullivan County team met with District 100’s new Assemblymember, Paula Elaine Kay, who—like her predecessor, Aileen Gunther—enthusiastically agreed to cosponsor the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act.

NY residents advocate for packaging reduction act

Communities across the region are struggling to deal with ever-increasing amounts of waste—and plastic packaging makes up a huge and growing portion of what we toss. That’s why … more

2/5/25

Solar panels in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

SEEDS gets funding to help energy efficiency assessments

HONESDALE, PA — Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support (SEEDS) has received a grant of $30,000 from the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies (CFA) for building the capacity of … more

2/5/25

A solar installation at the Highlights Foundation in Boyds Mills, PA, completed in the summer of 2020 by SEEDS and Highlights volunteers.

Energy-efficiency internships open at SEEDS

HONESDALE, PA — Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support (SEEDS) of Northeastern PA is seeking responsible college students for a paid summer internship. The students selected will … more

2/5/25

The beauty and danger of solar storms

The Beauty and Danger of Solar Storms: From Mesmerising Northern Lights to Extended Power Outages Solar storms have fascinated and challenged humanity for centuries. These awe-inspiring … more

VILNIUS UNIVERSITY | 1/16/25

Farming practices can have a big effect on the quality and quantity of water on a property, including the drinking water.

Webinar teaches ecosensitive farming strategies

ONLINE — A webinar designed to raise awareness about smart strategies for farming in sensitive ecosystems, with a focus on private drinking water sources, will occur from noon to 1 p.m. … more

1/15/25

If landscapers, park and media work crews and the like can learn to landscape with native plants like these at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, we will have a chance to restore native habitats at a large scale.

Reclaiming lost habitat at scale

ONEONTA, NY — Landscaping professionals will gather in Davenport on March 11 to 13 for a training on how to use native plants and support natural habitats. As homeowners, business owners and … more

1/15/25

A scientific balloon is prepared for launch in Antarctica.

For once, some good climate news

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that the Antarctic ozone hole is smaller than it has been for many years. That’s still not small. At … more

1/15/25

Put people over plastics:

The petrochemical industry wants us to believe we can’t live without plastics, often pointing to medical devices. But the truth is that more than 40% of new plastic goes to make single-use … more

By REBEKAH CRESHKOFF | 1/15/25

With a little help from your friends, you can get toys repaired at a Repair Cafe.

Salvaging household items

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — The idea of salvage discussed in the articles on pages 10 and 11 isn’t just for buildings. It can be applied to the everyday items we use, use up, and all too … more

1/15/25

Agri-voltaics—integrating solar panels with crops and grazing—combines a high-tech approach with a natural one in our search for climate solutions.

A road map for climate solutions

Most of us like to live in a healthy environment and feel a sense of control in our lives. To support both those goals, a group of Hudson Valley grassroots leaders have come together and created the … more

By MELISSA EVERETT | 1/15/25

The two sides of Stephen Stuart's garage seen here used the salvaged siding from the old garage; the side windows were salvaged from the River Reporter building and the metal roof was left from another project and given to him.

Lessons from a garage

One key to managing the end of the life of buildings is to reimagine that building as feedstock for other uses. That allows us to proceed in such a way as to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from … more

By STEPHEN STUART | 1/15/25

An artist's rendering shows what the new Sullivan County Airport terminal building will look like when finished.

Setting a standard

SWAN LAKE, NY — Sullivan County International Airport’s new terminal is beautiful to behold, even in its unfinished state. The clean lines gracefully merge with the sky and surrounding … more

By DAN HUST | 1/15/25

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Currently viewing stories posted within the past 2 years.
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