The "Buresh Blog" will take a few days off & return Mon., Oct. 22nd -- here's to long weekends!
Ski season has officially begun in Colorado! A-Basin opened Wed. morning in Summit Co. & most of the other ski resorts will open in the coming weeks. Only 1 lift is operating at the high elevation A-Basin but with an 18 inch base that included a 4" blanket of powder Wed. Click here for the story & a live cam of A-Basin from the FOX affiliate in Denver...click here for webcam shots from A-Basin updated throuhout the day (no night shots).
Earth Gauge: Work for Energy Savings
Did you know that commercial and industrial buildings account for up to half of energy use in the United States? Many of the simple energy-saving steps we use at home can be implemented at work, too.
Tip: Every October, government organizations, businesses, associations and individuals observe Energy Awareness Month with activities and programs to reduce energy consumption in our daily lives. Why not make your time at work more energy efficient?
· Up to 35 percent of the electricity used in an office building is consumed by lighting! If you have a desk lamp, replace a traditional light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL). CFLs use about 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer.
· Have a window near your desk? Reduce energy needs for cooling and heating: Close blinds during warm weather to keep out the sun’s heat; on cold days, leave blinds open during daylight hours to let in the sun’s warmth.
· Keep air vents clear of papers, files and office supplies. It can take up to 25 percent more energy to pump air into a workspace if vents are blocked.
Energy Star has many more tips for going green at work. Visit here.
(Source: U.S. EPA and DOE. “Bring Your Green to Work with Energy Star.”)
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State of the Climate Report - Highlights from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center. Visit here for more information.
Climate Fact: Geographically Variable Precipitation, Near Normal Temps
Like August 2012, September 2012 in the Southeast featured near normal temperatures. Temperatures ranged from one to two degrees Fahrenheit below normal in parts of Alabama, North Carolina and southern Florida to one degree above normal in northern Florida. Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Island were warm as well, with San Juan, PR having its warmest September on record. Alabama and northwest Florida were the wettest spots in the region with totals 150 to 300 percent of normal: much of this rainfall was due to the lingering effects of Hurricane Isaac during the first week of September. The region’s dry patches were found along the Virginia and South Carolina coasts, as well as in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Rainfall total elsewhere in the region were generally between 50 and 100 percent of normal. The rainfall distribution did little to affect total drought coverage, which still impacts about one-third of the region. There were 208 reports of severe weather in the Southeast during the month.
For more information, click here.
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Climate in the News: “Lack of apples hurting attendance at Metro orchards.” – The Detroit News, October 13, 2012.
Due to the exceptionally warm spring temperatures coupled with a late April frost, Michigan’s apple production for the year is estimated to be around three million bushels, down from the usual production of 20 to 23 million bushels.
