Edmonds Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

Buildings are now being constructed that significantly reduce environmental impacts. Terms used to describe them are “green” or “sustainable.” There are processes that... — Updated 1/13/2022

One of the great revolutions in our history was the invention and, after lots of turmoil, adoption of the scientific method. Galileo is called by many the “father of the... — Updated 12/28/2021

It is interesting to pick something that we use as part of our daily lives and take a look at the impact of that use. The car tires that we all ride on need to be made, they wear ou... — Updated 11/23/2021

It is not just in faraway places that the extinction crisis is happening. The wide variety of life that used to inhabit the Puget Sound lowlands continues to shrink. Some our animal... — Updated 11/21/2021

‘Tis is the season to shop. It might seem early, but all the broken links in the supply chain could mean now or never. Guys’ shopping day, Christmas Eve, is going to be way too... — Updated 11/4/2021

Five mass extinctions have dramatically changed the face of life on earth. They have collapsed biodiversity and created conditions where new species have evolved and dominated. We a... — Updated 10/25/2021

The Edmonds Marsh is known throughout the region by birders, and is popular with everyone looking for an impressive, close-up look at rare marsh wetlands. A walkway along the north... — Updated 10/6/2021

Our remarkable species is only about 200,000 years old. This is brand new by evolutionary standards. In that short period, we have exploded onto the scene. Most of that explosion ha... — Updated 9/23/2021

Two of the species of North American Pacific salmon spawn inside the city limits of Edmonds. Both chum and coho end their epic ocean voyages to Alaska and back in our local creeks... — Updated 9/16/2021

Looking back at earth's climate history can help us understand where we are today and what can happen in the future. The figure included with this column includes lots of... — Updated 9/2/2021

Greener Edmonds Are we actually doing any good when we recycle? This is a more complicated question than it should be. If we decide this is the only thing needed to save the planet... — Updated 8/26/2021

An example of climate change impacts is playing out 100 miles to the northeast of us in the Methow Valley. Major fires there are now a regular occurrence. With the nation’s worst... — Updated 8/12/2021

There are several non-native, invasive mammal species that wreak havoc on the world around us. First example? Our pet cats, that turn into cold-blooded killing machines when they... — Updated 8/5/2021

We hear a lot about the dangers of carbon dioxide and what it is doing to the planet. Where does it come from? Ours is a water planet, and over the history of life on earth lots of... — Updated 7/22/2021

We Edmondites are lucky to have so much wildlife around us. One reason for this is that great big natural area at our doorstep, Puget Sound. Our marine mammals include otters, whale... — Updated 6/24/2021

Does solar make sense here? Yup. Solar technology is improving, we get more sun than one would think, and government subsidies allow pay back over relatively short periods. So,... — Updated 6/3/2021

The City of Edmonds Climate Change Action Plan estimates that over half of all greenhouse gas emissions here are due to transportation. Switching from a gas to a plug-in electric... — Updated 5/13/2021

Earth Day is April 24th, a good time to help make the environment around us a bit better. There are lots of ways we can take action in honor of the day. One is to spend the day... — Updated 4/15/2021

Edmonds storm drains move water from our streets, yards, parks, and rooftops. The system starts with grates in the roads and ends in Puget Sound. Unlike the sewer system, storm... — Updated 4/1/2021

Snohomish County PUD gets most of its electricity from Bonneville Power Administration dams on the Columbia River, a clean source that produces minimal amounts of greenhouse gases.... — Updated 3/11/2021

Once food comes home from the grocery store what we do with it can help reduce our environmental footprint. Estimates are that about 20% of the food we buy ends up being thrown... — Updated 2/18/2021

A life lived with no greenhouse gas legacy is not an easy goal to reach. But reducing output with lifestyle changes helps, and there are ways to get all the way down to net zero.... — Updated 2/11/2021

There are many ways to make food buying at the grocery store more responsible in 2021. How it is packaged, what we buy, who produces it, and where it comes from are all things to... — Updated 1/2/2021

Installing an efficient heating system like a heat pump is one way to lower the environmental cost of keeping a house warm. Another is working with what is already there. Sealing... — Updated 11/24/2020

Heating is by far the biggest use of energy in a Pacific Northwest home. There are several main sources for this heat: oil, propane, gas, and electricity. Which is greenest? Which... — Updated 11/5/2020