The DRBC has scheduled a special meeting on Nov 21, 2011 to consider adoption of the regulations. This meeting, open to the public, will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive, in Trenton, N.J.

The purpose of the proposed regulations is [...]]]>

Delaware River Basin

The DRBC has scheduled a special meeting on Nov 21, 2011 to consider adoption of the regulations. This meeting, open to the public, will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive, in Trenton, N.J.

The purpose of the proposed regulations is to protect the water resources of the Delaware River Basin during the development and operation of natural gas projects. The commission received approximately 69,000 submissions on the draft natural gas development regulations that were originally published on December 9, 2010.

The DRBC is a federal/interstate government agency responsible for managing the water resources within the 13,539 square-mile Delaware River Basin. The five commission members are the governors of the basin states (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania) and the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ North Atlantic Division, who represents the federal government.

On November 21st the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) will vote to approve a plan that will allow for 20,000 or more fracked gas wells in the Delaware River Basin.

Below is an excerpt from http://savethedelaware.wordpress.com/.

THE CRUCIAL VOTE:

The DRBC is an interstate body with five voting members, the Governors of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey and the Obama Administration as represented by the Army Corps of Engineers.  Three out of five votes will either pass or reject the plan to frack the Delaware River.

It seems clear that the Governors of New Jersey and Pennsylvania will vote to allow fracking on a huge scale in the River Basin, which is why we need all three remaining votes in order to prevail.

Not only is the Delaware River the source of drinking water for 16 million people (or 5% of Americans), it is a designated Wild and Scenic river, a tourist destination for 5.4 million people a year and a national treasure.  The proposed plan to frack the Delaware would forever industrialize and contaminate this precious and currently pristine watershed.  We can work together now to protect our water.

Two things you can do:

1) Make calls.  2) Come in a protest effort on November 21st.

MAKE CALLS RIGHT NOW:

Call the Army Corps of Engineers to urge them to vote no fracking in the Delaware River Basin.  Tell them you will hold President Obama accountable for the vote and make it clear that you know that it is his decision.  703 697 4672  Leave a message for Jo Ellen Darcy, Obama’s rep on the DRBC

Call Governor Jack Markell of Delaware.  Delaware has been sitting on the fence on fracking.  We need them clearly and unequivocally voting no.  Tell him to vote no fracking on the upcoming DRBC vote.  302-577-3210

Call Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York.  Tell him to oppose fracking in the Delaware River Basin watershed, just as he has in the New York city and Syracuse watersheds.  518-474-8390

PROTEST on NOVEMBER 21st in Trenton, N.J.

When: November 21, 8 am

Where: Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive Trenton, N.J.

For more information go to savethedelawareriver.com or visit delawareriverkeeper.org

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I wondered if that may be true.  Over the [...]]]> At a meeting I attended last week someone asked the question, “Is using a dishwasher more energy efficient then washing dishes by hand.  She wondered if the dishwasher manufacturers weren’t the ones promoting the idea that built in dishwashers are the greenest way to handle our dirty dishes. 

I wondered if that may be true.  Over the years, I have read many articles on this debate and did not really take time to research the sources so I thought I would tackle this conundrum myself.

 Here are the stats I compiled from www.energystar.gov

All things being unequal, we must assume the same amount of dishes for the comparison to be accurate.  A standard dishwasher holds an eight place setting and six serving pieces.

Can you hand wash and rinse a load of dishes with just 2 gallons of water?  If so, then hands down, hand washing can be the greener choice.  If so, perhaps you should contact the Guinness Book of records for your amazing dishwashing skills.  In the interest of science, I attempted this feat.  I used a double sink and filled bowl #1 with 1 gallon of warm soapy water for scrubbing.  In bowl # 2, I prepared a 1 gallon jug filled with warm water to use for rinsing.  On the counter piled a 4 piece place setting and 2 serving pieces.  As my grandmother taught me, I started with the glassware, then silverware, onto plates but I was out of rinsing water.  And frankly, the pieces that were done were not sufficiently rinsed to my liking.  I then attempted the experiment again with four gallons of water.  I kept the same 1 gallon for washing and now had three gallons to rinse.  I was able to wash and rinse less than half of the amount of dishes a machine would with the same amount of water.  It is hard to beat the machine.

According to the Energy Star website, using a dishwasher “can save you over 230 hours of personal time over the course of a year.  That’s almost 10 days!”  That’s what I’m talking about.

So the answer is….built in dishwashers win.  If you have an Energy Star dishwasher and only run it when it has a full load then it is clear cut.  If you have the dishwashing skills of a ninja then perhaps you can beat an older, average machine.

Let’s not forget the reduce and reuse part of the 3 R’s mantra.  If we don’t dirty a dish it does not need to be washed so only use 1 glass or cup per day per person. Skip the separate salad plate and just use one plate per person at dinner.  Skip the serving dishes all together and serve directly from the pot or pan you cooked in.

 Greenest Choice:  Energy Star dishwasher run only when there is a full load.

 Happy washing!