Radiant energy from the sun is absorbed or deflected by leaves on deciduous trees in the summer.

The more compact the foliage on the tree or group of trees, the greater the influence of the windbreak for slowing cold, winter winds.

Trees intercept water, store some of it, and reduce storm runoff and the possibility of flooding.

Temperature in the vicinity of trees is cooler than that away from trees. By using trees in the cities, we are able to moderate the heat-island effect caused by pavement and buildings in commercial areas.

In the process of absorbing carbon dioxide from the air, leaves also absorb other air pollutants-such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide-and give off oxygen.

Information found at: TreesAreGood.com

Organic foods are those that have been grown without any pesticides. Not only does that mean less pesticides ingested and digested by you but also fewer chemicals dumped into our soil and water.

Certain foods soak up pesticides more readily than others. Here is a list of the most important fruits and vegetables to buy organic:

- peaches
- apples
- sweet bell peppers
- celery
- nectarines
- strawberries
- cherries
- pears
- imported grapes
- spinach
- lettuces
- potatoes

For more information regarding organic foods and products, check out the USDA, Local Harvest, and the Organic Consumers Association. Information found at: Epicurious.com

1 – Carpool as often as you can. Try carpooling once a week. Carpooling generally means less CO2 emissions, less congested roadways, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re actively committed to lowering your carbon footprint.

2 – Turn off lights the moment you walk out of a room. You never know how long you will be away, so get into the habit of always turning off the lights.

3 – Unplug battery chargers from the wall when charging is complete. This includes laptops, cell phones, and other battery-operated electronics. The charger continues to draw the same amount of power (wasting electricity) whether the laptop or cell phone is attached to the charger or not.

To reduce waste when eating out ask your server to bring your drink without a straw. Think about how many drinks are served with straws and how you can reduce the waste and save the restaurant a little cash.