Don’t Be Afraid of the Environment

air pollution

Emissions from a sugar factory. Yes, a sugar factory

While teaching a recent environmental training course, I found it hard to paint of pretty picture of the environment. The course was about incorporating environmental considerations into your projects and decisions. It was a broader look at the topic than just NEPA. Most of the attendees didn’t have any formal environmental background or training. That is where, I think, the problems came up. After a few hours I eventually had to say, “Don’t be afraid of the environment.” Continue reading →

From The Air: Yellowstone To Missoula

I always try to get an airplane window seat, particularly when flying over the mountain west. The dramatic changes in geography can be stunning. Flying over the Midwest is not as interesting. I’ve taken countless photos out the window of an airplane of geographic features and man-made structures that stand out. I even make sure I have the window seat on the right side of the plane. Sit on the wrong side of the plane and you can miss all the cool stuff.

The below photos are a perfect example of a great window view flying over the Rockies. Here’s a window seat view of the beautiful Rocky Mountains between Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park in northwest Wyoming and Missoula, MT. These photos were taken during two different flights at different times of the year. One from Denver to Missoula and the other a return trip. Enjoy Yellowstone to Missoula from the air.

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That’s the Grand Tetons at the top of the photo, seen while flying over Yellowstone Lake. I had my face buried in my phone and almost missed an aerial view of these iconic mountains.

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Environmental Impacts of a Government Shutdown

Rocky Mountain National Park

You’ll miss a beautiful fall in Rocky Mountain National Park.

As of publishing, there is a threat of a government shutdown beginning on Oct 1, 2015. Some have put the odds at 75%. The impacts of a shutdown will be widely felt as progress, facilities, and operations across nearly all fields will impacted. This will provide you an overview of the environmental impacts of a government shutdown. This is not inclusive, but should give you a good indication of the overall impact. Continue reading →

The Toxic Animas River

You’ve seen the orange yellow water. It’s diluted downstream. But do you know what toxins were actually released in the Animas River? What are the hazards of this contamination? Here’s a look at the Toxic Animas River.

Although the metals will dilute downstream, they are heavy metals. That means much of it has settled on the bottom of the river and/or attached to organic matter. That’s good. The settled metals will be covered over by more river sediment, which reduces exposure. That’s bad. They’re still in there, exposed to the water and can be kicked up. Continue reading →

Environmental Interview I Wish I Had Done

Freakonomics Radio episode, How Efficient is Energy Efficiency?, is great. It’s an interview with Dr. Arik Levinson about his work on energy efficiency as an “environmental economist”. Dr. Levinson is a professor at Georgetown University and spent time as a senior economist for environmental issues with the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) under President Obama. The episode is so good, it’s an environmental interview I wish I had conducted. This blog’s primary goal is talking with interesting environmental professionals about their important, relevant, and/or cool work. That’s this interview. Continue reading →

Podcasts of an Environmental Professional

This blog is about the lifestyle of Environmental Professionals. I’ve written about what I’m watching and what I’m eating and drinking. Now here’s a look at what I’m listening to. I listen to several podcasts, often while I’m on the road traveling to and from job sites. None of them are specifically environmental podcasts. Although most of them touch on it with specific guests and topics. I have listened to a few environmental podcasts, but they weren’t entertaining enough to hold my attention. Continue reading →

“The One You Feed” Applied To Environmental Professionals

Logo for The One You Feed podcast.

Logo for The One You Feed podcast.

I’ve been enjoying the podcast, The One You Feed, which is described as, “Conversations about creating a life worth living.” The episodes are either interviews with interesting and inspiring people or mini episodes, both of which offer advice and insight on how to live a more positive, constructive life. You can apply the topics and inspiration to your daily mindset, health and fitness, and/or work. After listening to several episodes, I started finding parallels in the stories to the work and life of an environmental professional. Continue reading →

The Environmental Professional Lifestyle

NRELWTC

NREL Wind Technology Center – The kind of thing a curious environmental professional can’t overlook.

First, welcome to any new readers. I hope you found the article or information you were searching. Second, thank you to all the new and repeat readers. I’m continually awed that these stories get read and re-read. I hope you have been informed, enlightened, inspired and/or entertained. Finally, since the blog recently turned 2 I thought I would provide a quick-look refresher on what it’s all about. And that is the Environmental Professional Lifestyle. Continue reading →

My Earth Day Dilemma: It’s not you, Earth Day. It’s me.

Recycle EarthEarth Day is a wonderful event that is an important driver of environmental causes. It educates and inspires people all over the world. And I have a problem with it. Here’s my Earth Day dilemma. It’s not you, Earth Day. It’s me.

The perception of people who work in the environmental field is often of a tree hugger or environmentalist. These terms can be endearing, but in this instance I use them derogatorily. I’ve been called both of these terms in both positive and negative settings. My dilemma is that Earth Day events often enhance or validate this stereotype, for better and worse. It’s the worse that bothers me. Continue reading →

“Tribes” Applied to Environmental Professionals

Tribes, Seth GodinTribes, by Seth Godin, describes how significant change can be implemented by groups of people connected to each other by an idea, goal, or conviction. A tribe. The tribe doesn’t have to be co-located. It only needs something to believe in, a leader, and a place to connect. While reading, I was struck at how much Tribes applies to environmental professionals and this blog. Continue reading →