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DNREC Mosquito Control Urges Citizens to Help Keep Mosquito Populations Down
DNREC Public Affairs
In Delaware the Asian Tiger mosquito is an aggressive daytime biter distinguished by its silver or white stripes on a black body - and by the extremely large, itchy, long-lasting welts it leaves, according to Tom Moran, Mosquito Control Section regional manager.
"Asian Tiger mosquitoes breed in tarps, flower pots, boats, non-functioning swimming pools, rain gutters - anything around your yard that can collect water. These nuisance mosquitoes don't fly more than several hundred yards from where they are born, so that means that if you have this type, the source is very likely your yard or one of your immediate neighbors," Moran said.
One of the greatest resources that the Mosquito Control Section has to combat mosquitoes is YOU. Just one container that’s holding water can produce thousands of mosquitoes. The best prevention is to eliminate as much standing water from your property as possible and encouraging your neighbors to do the same.
From spring to fall each year, Delaware Mosquito Control's public service mission includes statewide aerial spraying and ground fogging to control mosquito populations once they're hatched, targeting immature mosquitoes in their aquatic stages or adults on-wing.
K.C. Conaway, Mosquito Control Section Regional Manager, Milford office said “Mosquitoes can severely reduce the quality of life for you and your neighborhood. Remember, in addition to the discomfort of biting, mosquitoes also are proven vectors of disease, such as the West Nile virus. The Mosquito Control Section looks forward to partnering with you to protect the safety and quality of life for residents and visitors to Delaware."
Dr. William Meredith, Mosquito Control Section Administrator, notes that Delaware has many environmental factors and habitat conditions that can produce severe mosquito infestations, which, if not controlled, can impact quality-of-life, public health and local economies. "We rank in the Top 10 states for percentage of wetlands cover and for human population density, which in terms of causing and then having to deal with mosquito problems can be a pretty unholy mix. Our Mosquito Control staff works hard behind-the-scenes to keep mosquito populations tolerable, and we take pride that we can help Delaware to be a much more livable state," Meredith said.
Delawareans are encouraged to report mosquito control needs or concerns including intolerable infestations. Residents of New Castle County and northern Kent County including Dover, Little Creek, Kitts Hummock, Hartly, Marydel, Sandtown, Magnolia and Camden-Wyoming, can call the Glasgow Office at 302-836-2555. Residents of Sussex County and southern Kent County including Bowers Beach, Woodside, Viola, Frederica, Felton, Milford and Harrington can call the Milford Office at 302-422-1512.
Advance public notice of when and where spraying will occur is given daily via radio announcements, by calling 800-338-8181 toll-free, or by visiting www.fw.delaware.gov/services/MosquitoSection.htm. Interested parties may also subscribe to receive email notices by visiting the DNREC homepage - click on "Email List Subscription" under Services and follow directions to sign up for mosquito control spray announcements.
Photo - DNREC
7 Surprising Sources of Indoor Air Pollution
Sara Novak – PlantGreen.com
1. The Kitchen Stove – the main cause of excess nitrogen dioxide in the home. Cooking on a stove, particularly a gas stove, can actually introduce unsafe levels of nitrogen dioxide into the air. Too much nitrogen dioxide is bad for the respiratory system, increasing the risk of asthma attacks and other respiratory illness. This is easily preventable by making sure that your stove is properly ventilated.
2. Air Purifiers that Use Ozone – are used to purify the air but the fact is that they sometimes can do just the opposite. Ozone is the main ingredient used to give the air a good cleaning. But ozone is also the main ingredient in smog. It can scar lung tissue, trigger asthma attacks, cause coughing fits and lead to permanent damage that could shorten your life. Do not purchase ozone generators that are sold as air cleaners.
3. Cockroaches - their droppings, body parts, and saliva can be asthma triggers. Certain proteins, called allergens, are found in cockroach feces and saliva and can trigger symptoms. But don't reduce cockroaches by using traditional pesticides to kill them. Traditional pesticides can pollute our ground water and eco-system as well as the air we breath, instead keep the house clean by making sure that food matter is not left out in the open attracting bugs. Pay particular attention to the holes where cockroaches can make an easy entrance as well.
4. Laser Printers - Certain laser printers used in offices and homes release tiny particles of toner-like material into the air that can be inhaled deep into lungs where they may pose a health hazard. These particles are fine enough to infiltrate the lungs, causing damage equal to inhaled cigarette smoke. Solution: print less (save paper, save trees, save ink). Check with to see how harmful your laser printer might be to your indoor air quality.
5. Drapes - attract dust mites, which are related to spiders and ticks but are smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. They are too small to be seen by the unaided eye and are the number one cause of indoor allergies and
asthma. Install window blinds instead of drapes to cut down on dust mites' habitat.
6. Incense - burning it releases particulate matter as well as benzene and carbon monoxide, two dangerous gases. Studies show a link between heavy exposure to incense smoke and cancer, asthma, and skin irritation. It's best either to stop burning incense entirely or make sure that the room is well ventilated when you do burn it.
7. Spackling - once used to patch holes may contain asbestos according to the American Lung Association. Many asbestos products found in the home become a potential problem indoors only if the asbestos-containing material is disturbed and becomes airborne, or when it disintegrates with age. If your home was built before the mid-80's it could contain asbestos. You can either hire professional asbestos abatement contractors to investigate or consider installing ¼-inch drywall over the existing ceiling. This is less expensive, but will require that the old ceiling be well sealed so as to avoid the risk that it will become friable in the future.
Green For Green Program
Energize Delaware
The new Green for Green Program offers Delaware new home buyers rebates of $3,000 to $6,000 for homes upgraded to national green standards for energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality, building materials and other conservation-oriented, energy-saving features.
Homeowners can save from $21 to $47 a month on average, or up to 36 percent, on an average monthly electric bill!
Developed jointly with the Department of Natural Resources and the Home Builders Association of Delaware, the rebate is available for homes in Delaware's designated growth areas.
Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) through the U.S. Department of Energy at a level up to $300,000, the rebates will fund energy upgrades for approximately 80 homes throughout the state.
Who can participate? Any Builder in Delaware can apply for homes being built in Delaware, based on the rules and terms of this program. All Buyers of new construction or to-be-built homes may ask their builder to apply for the Green for Green rebate program on their behalf.
To qualify for a rebate, you will need to build your home to one of the following certification program standards. You should consult with your builder to determine which green features in your new home will meet the minimum criteria below:
National Association of Home Builders Research Center (NAHBRC) National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Certifications: Silver - $3,000 rebate; Gold - $5,000 rebate; Emerald - $6,000 rebate.
US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leed for Homes Certified: Silver - $5,000 or better.
For more information visit Energize Delaware.
Save Energy and The Environment
WPO, US Environmental Protection Agency
Improve your home's comfort, and save energy and money while doing the right thing for the environment.
Know the facts. The average family spends $1,400 a year on energy bills—nearly half on heating and cooling. Energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment sized and installed correctly with properly sealed ducts can save homeowners as much as 20% on annual energy costs.
Keep it clean. A dirty air filter can increase energy costs and lead to early equipment failure. Clean or change the air filter monthly. Also, have equipment checked seasonallyto make sure it is operating efficiently,
Bundle up your home. Hidden gaps and cracks can add up to as much airflow as an open window. Home sealing can save up to 10% in energy costs. Start by sealing air leaks and adding insulation.
Tighten your ducts. Leaky ducts can reduce the system's overall efficiency by 20%.
Buy the right equipment. The correct size and proper airflow ensures that the system works efficiently.
Put your home to the test. Online tools help evaluate your home's energy performance and offer solutions. Visit http://www.energystar.gov/
Consult a professional. Visit http://www.natex.org/ to find a contractor whose technicians are certified.
Cash in on special offers. Check with your utility company or visit the rebate finder at http://www.energystar.gov/ to find any special deals.
Be smart when you shop. Ask for an ENERGY STAR when buying Furnaces, Heat Pumps, Boilers and Programmable Thermostats.
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Brandywine Design
The Easiest Vegetables to Grow
Treehugger - Colleen Vanderlinden
1. Snap Beans (AKA Green beans, string beans)
Snap beans are easy to grow, and require very little in the way of maintenance other than regular watering.
They aren't susceptible to many pests or diseases, and germinate easily from seed.
Both pole and bush beans are easy, but if you're growing in containers, or would rather not deal with putting up trellises, bush beans are the way to go.
Beans grow best in full sun, but will also produce a decent amount of food when grown in partial shade.
2. Radishes
Radishes are a vegetable that doesn’t seem to get much respect. Most people think the only thing you can do with them is slice them into a salad or add them to a crudités platter.
But have you tried eating a radish smeared with butter and sprinkled with coarse salt? Have you tried roasting them as a side dish, or pickling them?
The seeds are large enough to sow easily, either in a garden bed or in a container that's at least six inches deep.
They grow in sun to partial shade. And as long as you manage to water them before the soil dries out, you'll be rewarded with plenty of crispy, spicy radishes. Just sow more as you need them, and you can grow radishes all season long.
3. Cherry Tomatoes
If you're able to provide a little bit of support (a cage or stake) you can grow indeterminate tomatoes fairly easily.
However, for the smallest amount of work possible, look for "patio" type tomatoes. These are usually hybrids -- some popular patio varieties include 'Patio' and 'Tiny Tim.'
If you prefer heirlooms, look for a small-fruited variety like 'Yellow Pear,' 'Chocolate Cherry,' or 'Red Currant.'
Small-fruited varieties are easy to grow because, unlike with larger tomatoes, you rarely have to worry about issues like splitting or blossom end rot.
Tomatoes will even be fine with a bit of neglect -- if you forget to water them, it's not a big deal. Some gardeners swear that tomatoes taste better the less water you give them.
One or two small-fruited tomato plants will keep you happily harvesting tomatoes throughout the summer until the first frost.
4. Mesclun
Salad lovers will want to grow tons of mesclun, not only outside in pots and along the edges of garden beds during the growing season, but also indoors during the winter.
You can buy specialty mesclun mixes, such as Asian mixes, spicy mixes, or colorful mixes (which are pretty in addition to being delicious).
Simply sprinkle the seeds heavily over the surface of your soil, cover with a fine sifting of soil, water regularly, and let it go.
Within about three weeks, you'll be able to cut your first salad. You'll be able to get three good, healthy harvests before you'll have to sow more seeds.
it's a good idea to sow a new area or container full of seeds every week or so to keep yourself continuously in fresh mesclun.
5. Asian Greens
Like mesclun, above, you can sow many Asian greens, such as tatsoi, bok choi, and mizuna and have a harvest of tender greens to add to salads, sandwiches, or stir fries in just a few weeks.
6. Wheat Grass
Not many people consider wheat grass to be a vegetable, but why not? If you love wheat grass juice, or are a fan of adding it to smoothies, why not grow your own?
A couple week's time, and you can harvest the wheat grass by cutting it with scissors or pruners -- it will keep growing, and you can continue to chop it as needed.
Like mesclun, it's probably a good idea to sow a couple of containers of wheat grass, so that after you cut the grass in one container down, you have another container ready to harvest.
Light Your Way to Savings with Discounts on ENERGY STAR® Qualified CFLs!
Energize Delaware
Replacing your standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) is an easy first step to make your home more energy efficient...saving you energy and money while helping to protect the environment.
CFLs use 75 percent less energy and last about 10 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs. Since the start of the program in August, more than 375,000 bulbs have been sold. Now that's impressive!
Energize Delaware's CFL Home Lighting Program provides special discount pricing and instant coupons on select ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs at retail locations throughout the state -as low as $.98 per bulb. Discounts are currently available at participating retailers throughout the state.
If you want to learn even more about CFLs, an entertaining video from Common Craft can help you understand how CFLs save money and energy and reduce greenhouse gases.
Nationally, 75 percent of bulb sales are incandescent light bulbs and 11 percent are CFLs. SEU-commissioned research shows that 38 percent of Delawareans say they replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs "most of the time," but data indicates that only 15 percent of the estimated 13.4 million bulb sockets in Delaware homes hold CFLs.
An ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb made available through the CFL Home Lighting Program will save about $30 over its lifetime and will pay for itself in about 6 months.
Just like batteries, computer and cell phone, CFLs need to be recycled. When your CFL no longer works, place the used, unbroken CFL in a plastic sandwich bag and consider one of the disposal options:
Drop the CFLs off at: a Delaware Recycling Center or some major retailers, such as Home Depot, will accept used CFLs. The Delaware Solid Waste Authority holds household waste collection days throughout the state.
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