During the next heavy rainstorm, watch how water flows on your driveway. Does it cascade into the street carrying oil, fertilizer and debris into local streams, or do you see rainfall puddling, then gently disappearing into the ground? If you can make the decision whether to pave over our planet or install permeable surfaces that […]
sustainability
Posted inTimes Record
Maine stays the course on clean energy incentives
The new One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) weakens or eliminates many of the federal tax credits which had boosted Americans’ efforts to live more sustainably. However, the state-funded, quasi-public agency known as Efficiency Maine Trust continues to incentivize a range of climate-friendly measures for individuals. If you want to buy a “clean vehicle,” save […]
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Posted inNews
Our Sustainable City: Summer updates and staff spotlights — Julie Taft
What has the Sustainability Department been up to this summer? The Resilient Yards Program is in full swing, as neighbors collaborate to establish native habitat gardens, replacing lawns with resilient landscapes that benefit our ecosystem. At the South Portland Transfer Station, the Swap Shop and Electric Tool Library are brimming with residents borrowing, sharing, and […]
Posted inTimes Record
Protecting our oceans through everyday choices
If you could make one small shift in your daily routine to help safeguard the home for over 80% of Earth’s life, would you do it? Summer beach season is a perfect time to explore how our household decisions can ripple out to protect creatures we seldom encounter but that play critical roles in our […]
Posted inTimes Record
Tips for improving your soil using biochar
As we saw in our column two weeks ago, proponents of sustainability appreciate biochar for its contributions to the health of our climate. Although the science is not settled, another apparent environmental benefit is biochar’s value as a soil amendment. Gardeners should, however, do their homework before using it. Biochar is produced from a feedstock […]
Posted inTimes Record
Cooling your home the natural way is surprisingly effective
The June heat dome that affected New England was tough by any measure. Are there ways to mitigate the impact of a heat wave that we could utilize in the coming weeks of July and August? Consider this scenario: it’s 95°F outside. Your air conditioner is humming at full blast, and your electricity meter is […]
Posted inMaine
Kennebunk advances climate initiatives
The Kennebunk Select Board accepted a solar panel grant and eliminated single-use plastics in municipal offices.
Posted inTimes Record
How to improve our climate with sustainable biochar
Biochar can enhance soil health, filter wastewater, improve thermal insulation, sequester carbon and more. Advantageous though it may be, biochar remains something of a well-kept secret. Here, let’s consider just one of biochar’s many virtues: its potential impact on the health of our climate. Biochar is a charcoal-like material produced from organic matter during a […]
Posted inNews
Land and water merge: Why South Portland’s Landcare Management Ordinance matters | Column
The well-being of our soils is inextricably linked to that of our waterways; land and water overlap via excess rainwater, which is only set to increase as storms intensify. With 16 miles of coastline, the city of South Portland holds a responsibility to protect our land and waterways from toxic chemicals and nutrients that are […]
Posted inTimes Record
Rethinking lawns: Summer sprinklers, streams and sustainability
After three months of Southern Maine weekends that included at least some rain (sometimes disappointingly affecting planned outdoor activities), discussions of droughts seem unnecessary. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports this month that Maine is experiencing minimal drought conditions. This represents a significant improvement from previous years. Maine has experienced significant droughts as recently as 2020-2022, […]