A cargo box that decreases fuel efficiency while driving.
Living in Humboldt County, we’re surrounded by nature: rocky coastlines, biodiverse forests, rolling hills, vast mountain ranges, and winding rivers. Whether or not you consider yourself a friend of Mother Nature, it’s important to acknowledge your personal impact on these places. Recognizing our habits is the first step to improving them. With the summer heat approaching quickly, people are out and about more than ever, soaking up Humboldt’s sun. As you enjoy the weather, remember these 5 tips to a cleaner and greener summer.
Remove car racks when not in use
It’s popular to spend your time traveling or mountain biking when the dry weather makes an appearance. Often, bike racks or cargo boxes get strapped to the roof during these adventures. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 0.8% of light-weight vehicle fuel usage nationwide is due to racks like these. This equates to 100 million gallons of fuel per year. These results refer to empty bike racks or cargo carriers, not to the cross bars these racks attach to. Yes, it’s inconvenient to remove your racks between usage, but the effects build up. If you take the extra 5-10 minutes, it will reduce fuel consumption and get you the most out of your mileage.
2. Choose the stop and restart method
Over the summer is the perfect time to travel or take day trips because of the extended break from school. It’s not uncommon to encounter road work on Highway 299, 101, or 36. During these construction stops, save fuel by turning your engine off. More CO2 is emitted from idling your car for longer than 10 seconds, then turning off and restarting your engine, a study by Argonne National Laboratory found. It’s estimated that 6 billion gallons of fuel are wasted annually due to idling. Taking this tip to heart will save gas and the planet from excess CO2 emissions.
3. Wear non-nano mineral sunscreen
The warmer the weather gets, the stronger the UV index. Doctors recommend wearing SPF daily, especially when you’ll be spending hours cooking in the sun at the beach or the river. When choosing your sunscreen, opt for non-nano mineral sunscreens, which form a physical barrier that reflects UV rays. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays and convert them into heat, but often wash off when in contact with water because they are not fully absorbed into the skin.
These chemicals can cause coral bleaching, hinder photosynthesis in aquatic plants, and deform young in some species. Non-nano sunscreen possesses particles that are 100 nanometers or larger, which is 5-10 times larger than the particles used in typical mineral sunscreens. This ensures the particles that wash off will not be as easily ingested by marine animals, such as coral. Not only do physical sun blockers like zinc oxide protect our aquatic ecosystems from harmful chemicals, they also protect you from UV-A and UV-B rays, which most chemical sunscreens do not.
4. Shop sustainably
When seasons change, people switch up their wardrobes to fit the new weather. Fast fashion is a booming industry that thrives when people decide they do not care how their clothes are made, what they are made of, or if they will last. It is a popular trend for people to buy bikinis or festival outfits, just to shove them back in their drawers and buy new ones next year.
When you need to go shopping, thrifting used clothes, or shopping at a small business is a good alternative. Humboldt is a pretty rural place, and sometimes online shopping is the only way. When that is the case, research what brands you buy from. The more transparent the brand is about its products, typically the cleaner they are.
5. Dispose of food waste properly to protect wildlife
While on road trips, properly dispose of organic waste like fruit peels, pits, and cores instead of throwing them out of your car window. When tossed out the window, the waste does not travel far enough away from the road. Animals drawn to the smells in hopes of a snack accidentally become roadkill.