NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Go Green! EPA News You Can Use

GO GREEN! EPA News You Can Use - February 2011

Generator exhaust is toxic. Always put generators outside well away from doors, windows, and vents. Carbon monoxide (CO) is deadly, can build up quickly, and linger for hours. Find out more about safety and environmentally friendly options during severe winter weather.

What You Can Do, What You Can Use

Test your home for radon. Radon is the leading cause of non-smoking lung cancer. The only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon is to test your home. The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend that all homes be tested.

Enter the Rachel Carson "Sense of Wonder" contest. Show how the beauty of nature inspires you through poetry, essays, photos or dance. Entries must be from a team of two or more persons, a young person and an older person. The deadline for team entries is June 10, 2011.

Help older adults avoid Carbon Monoxide poisoning. You can install Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms in areas where older adults sleep, be attentive to possible symptoms of CO poisoning, and more easy steps. Find out more.

Burnwise this winter. A correctly used wood-burning stove or other appliance should be smoke-free. If you see or smell smoke, you may have a problem as smoke can contain particulate matter that is harmful to breathe.

Join the Greenversation - share your thoughts as EPA employees share their unique perspective on environmentalism and personal experiences in protecting and improving our nation's water, land, and air. http://blog.epa.gov/blog

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

1.February
2. Month National Wildbird Feeding Month
3.Day 2 World Wetlands Day

This Month in Epa@40
In December 2010, EPA turned 40! Here are some key events and activities from years past that happened this month:

Feb 1, 2002 - EPA officially moves to clean up Hudson River PCB contamination. Feb 5, 1989 - William K. Reilly becomes Administrator and serves as the U.S. rep. to the "Earth Summit." Feb 7, 1985 - Lee M. Thomas becomes Administrator. CFCs and lead additives in gas are phased out under his leadership. Feb 27, 1987 - Climate change emerges as the greatest threat in EPA's "Unfinished Business" report.

About This Newsletter
America is shifting to a "green culture" where over 300 million citizens are embracing the fact that environmental responsibility is everyone's responsibility. "Go Green!" is a monthly newsletter from the US EPA with information about activities and events that everyone can use to make a difference in their homes, communities, and offices.