Biodiversity

The worst thing that can happen during the 1980s is not energy depletion, economic collapse, limited nuclear war, or conquest by a totalitarian government. As terrible as these catastrophes would be for us, they can be repaired within a few generations. The one process ongoing in the 1980s that will take millions of years to correct is the loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural habitats. This is the folly that our descendants are least likely to forgive us.

- E.O. Wilson, 1985

One of the biggest threats to biodiversity is species introduction.  The pace at which we introduce non-native species to land is too fast for surrounding ecosystems to adapt.  The environment becomes less stable, and the result is increased risk to our health, economic stability and future generations.
A great organization to get involved with is Colorado Native Plant Society, www.conps.org.  Check out their Adopt a Rare Plant program!
If you're thinking about landscaping your yard, be sure to check out another great resource: http://www.denverplants.com/.  They have a complete list of plants native to Denver and information on how to plant them.
Here at the Green Route, we are going to use native seed packets for our pass.  Join the pass at www.greenroute.com and receive your seed packet at our official launch at the Green Route Festival.
[To read more about impacts of species invasion, visit: http://www.gcrio.org/CONSEQUENCES/vol2no2/article2.html][Image and quote found on: http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/biodiversity/biodiversity.html]

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is one the biggest ecological problems in the world. Loss of biodiversity leads to loss of habitats. Current population growth is causing habitat loss to occur 1000x faster than what would occur with natural selection. Population growth paired with loss of habitats will likely result in food shortages.

On the brighter side of things, listed below are 10 things you can do to help preserve biodiversity

1. Reduce use of pesticides and fertilizers

2. Get envolved with ecological restoration in your local area.

3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

4. Compost

5. Use enviornmentally friendly cleaning products

6. Buy organic foods

7. Buy sustainably harvested seafood

8. Conserve energy

9. Reduce single-person car use

10. Incorporate renewable energy/ energy efficiency into your home.

Water- Part II

SAVE WATER. SAVE LIFE.

Why Save Water?

• Water is a finite resource—even though about 70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water, less than 1 percent is available for human use.
  
  
• At least 36 states are projecting water shortages between now and 2013.
  
  
• Each American uses an average of 100 gallons of water a day at home.
  
  
• We can all use 30 percent less water by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances.
  
  
• The average household spends as much as $500 per year on their water and sewer bill and can save about $170 per year by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances.

WaterSense and Water Savings

• WaterSense labels products that are 20 percent more water-efficient and perform as well as or better than conventional models.
  
  
• WaterSense labeled faucets—or aerators that can be installed on existing bathroom faucets—are about 30 percent more efficient than standard faucets, but still provide plenty of good flow.
  
  
• WaterSense labeled toilets use 20 percent less water per flush, but perform as well as or better than today's standard toilets and older toilets that use much more water.
  
  
• The WaterSense label is now found on more than 170 different toilet models and 100 faucet or faucet accessory models that are independently tested and certified to meet EPA's criteria for both efficiency and performance.
  
  
• To reduce outdoor water use, WaterSense is researching weather-based irrigation controllers and soil moisture sensors that do the thinking for you when it comes to watering your lawn.
  
  
• To design, service, or audit your in-ground landscape irrigation system, look for one of the more than 470 WaterSense irrigation partners. 
•  Example of water efficient landscape below, in Santa Babara, CA. 

Facts and Statistics

• Approximately 5 to 10 percent of American homes have water leaks that drip away 90 gallons a day or more! Many of these leaks reside in old fixtures such as leaky toilets and faucets. In fact, water lost by these leaky residences could be reduced by more than 30,000 gallons if new, efficient fixtures were installed. If the 5 percent of American homes that leak the most corrected those leaks—it could save more than 177 billion gallons of water annually!
  
  
• Using WaterSense labeled faucets or faucet accessories could reduce a household's faucet water use by more than 500 gallons annually—that's enough water to do 14 loads of laundry.
  
  
• WaterSense labeled faucets and faucet accessories can reduce excessive flow volumes by more than 30 percent without sacrificing performance.
  
  
• If one in every 10 homes in the United States were to install WaterSense labeled faucets or faucet accessories in their bathrooms, it could save 6 billion gallons of water, and more than $50 million in the energy costs to supply, heat, and treat that water.
  
  
• If all inefficient toilets in U.S. homes were converted to WaterSense labeled models, we could save more than 640 billion gallons of water per year—the equivalent to 15 days of flow over Niagara Falls.

• If homeowners with irrigation systems use WaterSense irrigation partners to perform regular maintenance, they could reduce irrigation water by 15 percent or about 9,000 gallons annually—or the amount of water that would flow from a garden hose nonstop for nearly a whole day.

Facts from EPA

WATER

For the next series of posts, Green Route has started to research WATER... We wanted to first start off by showing you this video about the issues with water bottles. Watch and learn here:

Stay tuned and you will soon be updated about global and local topics surrounding water. 

GREEN ROUTE ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL

COME AND JOIN US FOR OUR MONTHLY HAPPY HOUR ON 5/27 4-7PM

LEARN ABOUT ENVIRO ISSUES 

&

DRINK A COLD GREAT DIVIDE BEER

How to ride the bus with your bike?

Roll along with bikes on buses!

All buses except the 16th Street FREE MallRide are equipped with bike racks on the front of the bus. RTD's easy-to-use bike racks can hold two bikes and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bikes can be loaded at all bus stops except those marked “Non-bicycle stop.”

How to use the bus bike racks:

• Signal bus operator to let him or her know you want to load your bike.
• You must be able to lift the bike and place it on the rack yourself.
• To release the rack, squeeze the center handle and slowly lower it down.
• Place front wheel on side labeled “front wheel.”
• Pull up and out on the support arm and hook the arm securely over the top of the front wheel closest to the fork.
• When boarding, let the driver know the bus stop location where you will be exiting.
• Stay toward the front of the bus and watch your bike to ensure its safety.
• Exit at the front door and tell the driver you are removing your bike
• If you are the last person to unload your bike, return rack to its upright position

*	*	*	*
Squeeze the handle to release	Lower the rack	Place front wheel on side labeled "front wheel"	Pull support arm over the wheel

If the bus operator determines that the passenger load will be light enough to safely accommodate a bicycle throughout the trip, he or she may allow a bicycle inside the bus. However, if the bus becomes full or a disabled passenger boards, passengers with bicycles must be prepared to comply with all requests from bus operators to move from the priority seating and wheelchair securement area.


Tips for bringing bikes on Regional and SkyRide buses

• Use front-mounted bus bike racks if available. If racks are occupied, your bike may be loaded in the baggage bin if space is available. Always allow the bus operator to open and close the baggage bin doors.
• When the bus arrives, remain in line with your bike. Luggage and bikes will be loaded before the passengers board the bus.
• Load your bike as compactly as possible into the baggage bin. You may need to quick-release your front wheel.
• Once your bike is loaded, return to your place in line to board the bus.
• Bikes may be placed inside the bus at the sole discretion of the bus operator. If the bus operator determines that the passenger load will be light enough to safely accommodate a bike throughout the trip, he or she may allow a bike inside the bus. However, if the bus becomes full or a disabled passenger boards, passengers with bikes must be prepared to comply with all requests from bus operators to move from the priority seating and securement area.
 

RTD: Bus System in Denver

 

HOW TO MASTER THE BUS SYSTEM IN DENVER

 

STEP 1: Familiarize yourself with the website:  RTD
No computer? Call! 303.299.6000

STEP 2: Plan your trip using an RTD schedule    
Link to bus schedules: schedule
 
How to read schedule:

1. Open the schedule (or look online) and locate the direction of travel and day of the week.
2. Find the intersection closest to where you want to catch the bus. The bus usually makes stops between the major intersections listed on the schedule.
3. Look down the column under that intersection to find departure times from that stop.
4. Times are listed without using colons. So "426" means "4:26." Look for an "A" or a "P" to indicate AM or PM.
5. Find the intersection closest to your destination.
6. Read horizontally along the line that lists your departure time to determine when you will arrive at your destination. If no arrival time or (—) is shown, then that particular bus does not stop there. Look at the lines above and below for a bus that does make that stop.
7. To plan your return trip, look at the reverse direction of travel on the opposite side of the printed schedule and follow these same steps.

STEP 3: Find your bus stop.
All bus stop signs are red and white and list all routes that stop at that location. Bus stops are generally located every few blocks along Local bus routes. Express and Limited route stops are located farther apart.

Hint: On many routes, the stop for your return trip will be located across the street from the stop where you boarded the bus.

STEP 4: Verify your route and board the bus
When you see a bus approaching, look at the electronic destination sign above the front windshield to verify the route number. To let the bus driver know you want to board, please stand and wait near the curb at the designated bus stop.
 
STEP 5: Pay your fare
RTD offers a number of ways to pay your bus fare:
Cash
Exact change must be used when paying with cash. The driver will not make change.

• Have your money ready before you board.
• Insert your money in the fare box next to the driver as you board.
• During weekday afternoon rush hours between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., boarding times are extremely short at the Market Street, Civic Center and I-25 & Broadway stations. When riding Express and Regional routes leaving these stations, pay as you exit the bus.

STEP 6: Get off at your stop
Stay alert so you know when your stop is approaching. If you're not sure when to get off the bus, sit close to the front and ask the driver to call out your stop.
Signal the driver you want to get off the bus about one block before you reach your stop. Depending on the type of bus you're riding, you can signal the driver by one of the following methods:

• Pulling the cord that runs above the windows.
• Pressing the yellow strip to the side of the windows.
• Pushing the button on the ceiling of the bus above your seat

The "Stop Requested" sign at the front of the bus will light up when you have activated the signal. When the bus stops, exit through the rear door if the bus has two doors. Wait until the bus pulls away so you can see traffic clearly before crossing the street. Do not cross in front of the bus.