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Food Preservation: Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions about Drying Foods

Of all the ways to preserve food, drying is the simplest. Removing water from the food prevents the growth... more

Food Preservation: Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions about Canning and Freezing

These days it seems everyone wants to buy fresh, locally grown produce, but that means an  abundance of peas... more

Water Wheels Outdoor Water Conservation Lab Introduced at GREEN LIVING EXPO 2012

written by Dr. Cathy Sabota/posted and narrated by Leslie Grill … LISTEN to this... more

Alabama Extension Working to Build Thriving Urban Farming Sector

While Dr. Ayanava Majumdar readily concedes that urban farming will never replace conventional farming entirely or solve world hunger, he... more

Third Annual Green Living Expo is April 19 in Huntsville

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System's Green Living Expo 2012 is Thursday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at... more

The CRP Readiness Initiative Coming to Montgomery

On April 10-11, conservation professionals have the opportunity to join more than 100 other colleagues across the country who have... more

Green Living Expo 2012 to Feature HEBNI Nutrition Group

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System's Green Living Expo 2012 will be held on Thursday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to... more

Seed Starting Time

It’s January, and gardeners are itching to get a head start on their gardens.  You hear them talking about it... more

Selecting The Right Fruit Varieties

Dr. Charlie Mitchell is this week’s Backyard Wisdom guest.  While his day job is as a soil scientist, Charlie... more

Vegetable Crop Handbook Wins National Award

The 2011 Southeastern U.S. Vegetable Crop Handbook won the Extension Blue Ribbon Communication Award from the Southern Region of the... more

Building Green: What Does it Mean?

Building a House

Those planning to build or buy an office building or home are faced with new terminology—green building. As builders and contractors address the desire of their customers to protect the environment, green building is increasingly becoming a feature of construction practices.

Building with green guidelines has environmental and financial benefits. These guidelines produce structures that consume less energy, less water, and fewer, less wasteful construction materials, promoting the efficient use of resources and providing lower operating costs. Some certification program guidelines also focus on the human health aspects of buildings, improving indoor air quality by using fewer toxic compounds during the construction process.

While green building construction costs may be somewhat higher than those of traditional methods, they are offset by lower operation and maintenance costs over the life of the building and by the high demand for green buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council estimates that buildings constructed using the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system have an 8 to 9 percent reduction in operating costs, a 7.5 percent increase in value, a 3.5 percent increase in occupancy, and a 3 percent increase in rent. more...

Maximum Power: Alabama 4-H Energy Program

What Are
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Energy Star Appliance Rebates

Alabama Environmental Council: Recycle Alabama
Searchable Alabama Map of Where to Recycle Different Materials