What’s Lurking in Your Countertops?

SHORTLY before Lynn Sugarman of Teaneck, N.J., bought her summer home in Lake George, N.Y., two years ago, a routine inspection revealed it had elevated levels of radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. So she called a radon measurement and mitigation technician to find the source.

DETECTION Using devices like the Geiger counter and the radiation detection instrument Stanley Liebert measures the radiation and radon emanating from granite like that in Lynn Sugarman’s kitchen counters.

“He went from room to room,” said Dr. Sugarman, a pediatrician. But he stopped in his tracks in the kitchen, which had richly grained cream, brown and burgundy granite countertops. His Geiger counter indicated that the granite was emitting radiation at levels 10 times higher than those he had measured elsewhere in the house.

Denver Democratic Convention Goes Green

Greening Denver

What We’re Doing

Our goal is to make this the greenest convention in history. Our mission is to build a long-lasting green legacy that will thrive in our community and around the world long after the last delegate leaves Denver. What does it take to do this? Lots of coordination and hard work from dedicated staff, volunteers and partners! We’re working on setting green standards for events, completing environmental improvements at city facilities, setting up recycling areas, partnering with local restaurants and venues for healthy options, tracking and offsetting carbon emissions, and much more. Here you can find information and updates on everything we’re doing to green the convention and the city.

Green Teams

Ten Green Teams are focusing on specific areas of sustainability including: business outreach, city facilities, greening events, resource recovery, transportation, new energy, water, lean & green, carbon, and communications. Learn more…

Latest Developments

• The Pepsi Center recently implemented their “Play Clean” program, which focuses on implementing sustainable practices into their operations. New projects include a recycling program, installing solar panels, and reducing energy and water use.
• We’re offering eco-friendly products as part of the official convention merchandise.

Online Resources

Visit our press section to find green media stories and press releases. Find green vendors in the vendor directory and register your green business.

Written by the Pepsi Center

Fire Pit Rotisserie Leg of Lamb (YouTube)

Fire Pit Rotisserie Leg of Lamb (YouTube)

Real Pulled Pork Barbecue Recipe (YouTube)

Real Pulled Pork Barbecue Recipe by the BBQ Pit Boys

Top 10 Eco-Friendly Yard and Garden Choices

Here are ten ways to craft a yard that will use fewer resources, preserve habitat, contribute less to landfills, pollute less, cool your home, and bring you the satisfaction of making responsible choices for the future of the planet.

1) Leave mature trees standing, unless they are invasive species such as Mimosa, Tree-of-Heaven, and Chinaberry. For more info on identifying invasive trees, google “invasive species” or go to the U.S. Forest Service’s Invasive Species Program and click on Plants in the right column. Or the USDA’s National Invasive Species Information Center, which lists invasive plants. Mature trees add to your property value, also keep your home and yard cooler in summer. In addition, they provide habitat for birds and other wildlife, and help your yard retain rainwater without eroding and adding sediment to streams.

2) If you plant shrubs and ground cover, choose native species. See the interactive map from the Nature Conservancy and U.C. Davis about invasive species, “The Global Invasive Species Initiative.” When you click on your state, it tells you about invasives shrubs and weeds in your area that you should avoid planting, because they spread aggressively and displace native species.

Fire Pits Bring More Than Warmth

Imagine enjoying a beautiful evening in your backyard with a group of friends, toasting to good times and enjoying roasting marshmellows at the fire pit as you have great conversation. You can have a bonfire, a barbeque or simply use it for heat or lighting. We just finished landscaping our backyard with a flagstone patio and fire pit and it’s so tranquil and inviting. Fire pits are no longer just for heat; they are for enjoyment as well. They have a great ambiance and the glow at night makes a romantic evening that much better. They come in several styles and colors to choose from ranging from small and round, wood burning to gas, to the larger sizes which allow seating on the edge. There is something for everyone and the costs are varied. People now design their patios and backyards like a second room and thus want to feel comfortable in a place where good friends can meet or you can simply read a book and listen to the birds. Add some comfortable patio furniture, a patio heater, some lawn art, ponds, waterfalls, mosaic decor, wind chimes, flowers, bird feeders, etc and you have a great seating area. Make sure your purchases are for items that can withstand the climate changes in your area. The look of your landscape is only limited by your imagination. Have fun in your transformation and save a marshmellow for me.

Making the Grass Greener

Now that Spring is here, it’s time to begin dreaming about the grass growing beneath your feet. But a lot of lawns aren’t very “green” — at least, not for the environment. Residential lawns can use a lot of toxic chemicals — up to 10 pounds of pesticides per acre. The poisons don’t end at your front door. When it rains, pesticides may be flushed into local streams, rivers, and lakes, harming fish and plants along the way. Here are some tips to make sure your grass looks great — and is safe for pets, children, and other living things.