Dear Dot is here to answer all your sustainable living questions from her perch on the porch. Got a question for Dot? Send her a note for a chance to be featured in an upcoming post.
Dear Dot,
Pigeons are ruining my ability to enjoy my balcony. They perch on a ledge above, so poop is everywhere. I don’t like the idea of using those pointy sharp metal things to discourage them;...
Dear Dot,
The cost of my utilities is steadily going up. What can I do to reduce what it’s costing?
–Nina
Dear Nina,
The Short Answer: Living lighter on the planet shouldn’t be a matter of spending more money...
Dear Dot,
How much does being a vegan or vegetarian help the environment?
–Jessica
The Short Answer: Put simply, Jessica, veganism and vegetarianism offer a clear environmental advantage over meat consumption.
Dear Jessica,
Dot’s eldest daughter once had a friend...
Dear Dot,
While Amazon and other online stores are using more recyclable packaging, they all come covered with packing tape and labels. Can cardboard boxes be recycled when covered with all of that, or does that...
Dear Dot,
What’s the deal with compostable and biodegradable plastics? Are they really compostable? Can I toss these plastics in my recycle bin? Or is there another way I should be disposing of them? Also, why...
Dear Dot,
What happens when solar panels do not gather enough energy to power the home? Does solar gather power during cloudy/rainy/snowy days or only during sunny days? I wonder how effective solar is on the...
Is there such a thing as clean burning natural gas?
–Val
The Short Answer: No.
Dear Val,
Your letter catches me on a beautiful early spring afternoon with the birds chittering in the trees. I long to walk in...
I would like to propose to my girlfriend but can’t afford an expensive engagement ring. Besides, we both care about the ethics around diamond mining. I’m considering a lab-grown diamond ring. What is the environmental...
Dear Dot,
I have a hard time saying ‘no’ to those free samples that are given out in department stores. Mostly tiny perfumes (lots and lots of perfumes). Then I end up giving a lot of...
Professional bird photographer Heather Wolf, author of “Birding at the Bridge,” has taken many great bird photos featured in “Brooklyn Bird Watch.” These birds are not necessarily...
Many climate-friendly projects, like solar panels and energy-efficient appliances, pay for themselves pretty quickly over time. Yet despite this good rate of return, getting...
If you’ve ever needed a reason to do something good for the Earth, let Earth Month be your reason. Here is a list of good ways to celebrate and care for our blue dot.
As farmers begin to plant their crops, we begin CSA signup season. CSAs or Community-Supported Agriculture, are essentially produce subscription boxes directly from your...