Monthly Archives: August 2011

Waterloo schools make green cleaning a daily routine

Posted on August 23, 2011 by

For the past seven years the Waterloo Community School District has implemented green cleaning measures at their schools. These measures include the use of environmentally friendly cleaning agents, limiting paper waste and switching out their old lights with low-mercury bulbs. … Continue reading →

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Central Iowans push for standardized bike laws

Posted on August 22, 2011 by

As Iowa continues to look for ways to increase state cycling, cities around Des Moines are contemplating the change to standardized bike laws. Currently, the cities’ varied laws force cyclists to both know and adopt new sets of rules each … Continue reading →

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On the Radio: Iowa bat population at risk

Posted on August 22, 2011 by

Check out this week’s radio segment here.  It discusses a disease called white-nose syndrome that is harming bats across the U.S. and is headed toward Iowa.

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Professor Richard Cruse speaks on Iowa’s topsoil

Posted on August 19, 2011 by

Richard Cruse is an Agronomy professor at Iowa State University. His research focuses on soil and crop management. One of his most recent projects involved leading a research team that created a system to more realistically estimate the amount of … Continue reading →

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Iowa City parking ramps receive green makeover

Posted on August 19, 2011 by

Iowa City is saving both energy and money through recent green efforts. The lights in the city’s parking ramps have been swapped with LED light bulbs. This seemingly simple measure will make a sizeable impact in the city’s utility bill … Continue reading →

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EPA stops sale of Dupont herbicide

Posted on August 18, 2011 by

A month ago the Iowa Environmental Focus covered a story on the link between the herbicide Imprelis and damaged trees. Last week the Environmental Protection Agency officially ordered DuPont to halt sales of the product. Earlier in the month, Dupont … Continue reading →

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Iowans to clean up Raccoon River this weekend

Posted on August 18, 2011 by

The Raccoon River will be getting a makeover on Saturday, thanks to the River Run Garbage Grab. The annual event, which is sponsored by the DNR and City of Des Moines, allows volunteers to pick up litter from the river itself … Continue reading →

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IEPC member believed to have conflict of interests

Posted on August 17, 2011 by

Could a member of the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission have a conflict of interests? That’s what the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement say, and they demand action. Brent Rastetter was appointed to a position with the IEPC in May, but … Continue reading →

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Johnson County wind farm ordinance approved

Posted on August 17, 2011 by

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors gave their approval for a wind farm ordinance last week that makes it easier to build turbines on agricultural land. Read more from the Iowa City Press-Citizen here: Johnson County is a step closer … Continue reading →

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Organizations recieve grant for aiding watersheds

Posted on August 16, 2011 by

The Iowa American Water’s 2011 Environmental Grant Program recently donated $6,200 to four organizations for promoting the protection of watersheds. The recipients were praised for a wide range of initiatives, from creating an educational DVD to volunteer clean up of … Continue reading →

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