By Juan Carlos Rodriguez (March 28, 2022, 6:30 PM EDT) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released Monday its strategic plan for the next five years, which focuses on climate, environmental justice and upgrading drinking water systems, the same day President Joe Biden proposed a big spending boost for the EPA.

Recalling a draft strategic plan released in October, the EPA committed to using its authority under the Civil Rights Act to be more responsive to communities that are overburdened by pollution. To do this, the agency will work to ensure that civil rights are considered by the air, water, land and other program offices within the agency — including regional offices…

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When it comes to attic insulation replacement in Oakland and Pleasant Hills, California, AirCom Insulation and Rodent Proofing Services is the correct name to bank on.

This press release was orginally distributed by ReleaseWire

Oakland, CA — (ReleaseWire) — 03/28/2022 — Attic insulation plays a vital role in keeping the home as comfortable and energy-efficient as possible. Unfortunately, the knowledge regarding attic insulation and its benefits is limited, and many people don’t even think about it. In other words, it could be almost impossible for people to be aware of the attic at all if they have never been in it.

A non-insulated or poorly insulated attic contributes to increased energy costs, making it hard to keep the home at a comfortable temperature. Energy loss is one of the major concerns at play regarding attic insulation replacement in Oakland and Pleasant Hills, California.

The HVAC system consumes more than a considerable percentage of total energy in an average household. Unfortunately, if the house is not properly insulated or not insulated, energy expenses are likely to shoot up, causing a significant financial crunch.

AirCom helps improve home efficiency with insulation replacement and indoor air quality services. With years of experience in the field, the technicians can help homeowners with insulated attics that can save a massive amount of money every year, making insulation a worthy investment.

Air leak within the home is another aspect of energy waste that can be prevented by simply having the attic appropriately insulated. A considerable amount of heating costs result from heat leaking through the ceiling. An impeccable attic insulation installation helps retain the temperatures by reducing air loss, ensuring the home remains comfortable and efficient.

By keeping the crawlspace and attic insulated, one can experience an improvement in indoor air quality. Besides, it controls indoor humidity and regulates indoor temperature.

AirCom Insulation and Rodent Proofing Services serve to install and replace all kinds of insulation. Plus, they recommend the right solution for the space and needs.

For more information on radiant barrier insulation in Hayward and Oakland, California, visit https://aircomsf.com/.

Call (888) 532-4726 for more details.

About Aircom
Aircom is a family-owned business that has been proudly serving the San Francisco Bay area since 2015. They are fully licensed, bonded, and insured. The crew has more than 10 years of experience and has helped thousands of happy customers get their problems solved, from rodent problems in the attic to efficiency upgrades to lowering their energy bills to completing HVAC systems cleaning for better in-home air quality.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/aircom-offers-quality-attic-insulation-replacement-in-oakland-and-pleasant-hills-california-1355303.htm

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Travel is undoubtedly rebounding, with US airline ticket sales back to pre-pandemic levels, according to recent analysis. And with pandemic restrictions being eased, travelers are packing their bags and taking to the skies to satisfy a long-suppressed sense of wanderlust.

But the pandemic has done more than just intensify the urge to travel, it has made us considerably more aware of the impact of our travel. According to Booking.com’s 2021 sustainable travel report, 61% of travelers said that the pandemic has made them want to travel more sustainably, and a further 81% intend to stay in sustainable accommodations at least once in the upcoming year. However, it is clear that barriers still remain, with 49% believing there simply aren’t enough sustainable options available to them.

Many hotels still largely depend on fossil fuels for their energy, and according to a recent green lodging trends report, a mere 21% have on-site renewable energy. These energy-intensive systems, used for things like heating water for showers and spas, and keeping guests’ rooms at comfortable temperatures create carbon emissions. These emissions, particularly at large resorts with an abundance of amenities add up, contributing to the roughly 8% of greenhouse gas emissions that estimates attribute to Global tourism.

To help steer you towards more sustainable stays, we’ve uncovered 5 innovative and Mother Nature approved properties that prioritize the planet, so you can vacation at ease, knowing you are keeping your footprint small.

Nimmo Bay Resort: Nimmo Bay, British Columbia

Photo: Courtesy of Jeremy Koreski (@jeremykoreski) and Nimmo Bay

Tucked away in the heart of Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, this intimate wilderness resort strives to tread lightly, giving more back to the land and their community than they take. Sustainability has been top of mind at this family-owned resort long before it was mainstream, with eco-friendly innovation dating back to the ‘80s when they first opened their doors.

Fueled by streams and waterfalls, a water-powered electricity system provides clean drinking water and generates the lion’s share of the resort’s power needs. Using a waste water management system, grey and black water is converted into clean water suitable for re-entry back into the ecosystem. While their carbon footprint is closely monitored and carbon emissions reduced to a minimum, one of Nimmo Bay’s more carbon-intensive activities is travel to/from the property. Set arrival and departure days for guests has helped mitigate emissions, reducing the number of miles traveled and the amount of fuel used by over 35% in the last 5 years. Electric alternatives to fuel engines is something they are actively sourcing, to further minimize their footprint. Carbon that cannot be further reduced is offset through various carbon reduction and conservation projects.

Committed to ethical wildlife practices, Nimmo Bay introduced a conservation initiative coined Bullets for Binos in 2012, aimed at protecting Grizzly bears in British Columbia. The program presented a unique incentive to hunters, offering the opportunity to trade in a trophy hunting license in exchange for a bear viewing trip for 2 people to the resort. The program intercepted many hunting tags, saving bears while developing a new-found respect for the species in the eyes of hunters. It played a pivotal role in the subsequent ban on the trophy hunting of Grizzly bears in the province.

In the kitchen, culinary ingredients are sustainably sourced, focusing on foraged, wild foods, sustainable seafood from their own backyard and produce that they can trace to the hands that sowed the seeds. They have increased their locally sourced ingredients by over 50% and continue to minimize the miles their food travels each year. Salmon conservation and the declining abundance is an important issue that sits at the heart of their menu. In an effort to increase awareness of the fragile salmon populations, and because product couldn’t be sourced that they were proud to buy and serve, Nimmo Bay eliminated the fish from their menu.

Acknowledging that true sustainability extends beyond conservation of the environment, Nimmo Bay is acutely focused on the development and well-being of local communities. Through partnerships with community-led organizations and non-profit societies, they support indigenous communities by helping to provide access to education and training.

Heckfield Place: Hampshire, England

Photo: Courtesy of Heckfield Place

Sitting on 400 acres of secluded countryside with 18th century origins, Heckfield Place is a luxury hotel that meticulously considers its impact, and it all begins with the soil. The estate is intrinsically connected to the land it sits on, and providing for it ensures it can continue to provide for them.

A fully certified biodynamic garden and organic home farm are at the heart of the estate, with crops of wheat, barley and spelt, an array of livestock and farm-to-fork produce that guides their daily menus. Every ounce of produce from the garden is considered precious, and in keeping with their zero-waste pledge, what isn’t used in the kitchen goes back to the land and into the soil. Scraps are repurposed into cordials, dressings, and preserves and incorporated into their Earth-minded menu.

Healthy ‘living’ soil is maintained without the use of any artificial chemicals, respecting nature using natural fertilizers such as compost and manure that build the soil rather than deplete it. A drove of 15-30 saddleback pigs help control the grass on the grounds, and bring fertility to the soil, crucial to a biodynamic closed circle. In 2020, Heckfield Place opened their own dairy, producing milk, cream, butter and yogurts for the house. The local cheesemaker uses the milk from their herds of Guernsey cows and Suffolk, Hampshire and Southdown sheep to make cheese.

In the orchard, bees from 20 hives seek out the blossoms on hundreds of fruit trees, helping to create the delicious honeycomb that guests enjoy. Surrounded by hedges of hawthorns, mulberries and blackberries; multiple greenhouses – each set to different temperatures – propagate everything that goes into the garden, and nurture lettuces, soft fruits, squash and tomatoes, as well as provide year-round fresh flowers for the house.

You won’t find any plastic in the guest rooms, and no single-use plastic is used in the kitchens; a policy that extends to their suppliers, requesting that deliveries be sent plastic-free, where possible. To maintain responsible consumption, water is extracted from an onsite bore hole to reduce water costs, and rainwater is harvested wherever they can for use on the estate. Bio-mass boilers burn wood pellets from a sustainable source to heat their water for showers, baths, and general heating. The estate’s future sustainability targets include a windmill in the garden and solar roof tiles for renewable energy.

The Baltic Treehouse: Ontario, Canada

Photo: Courtesy of Danielle Meredith Photography

Located 2 hours North of Toronto, this modern treehouse combines the amenities of a boutique hotel with what the owners call the “nest-like experience of life in the sky.” Sustainability features prominently in the design and build of this unique Airbnb property, starting with the protection of the supporting and surrounding trees. The use of heavy machinery, or even excessive foot traffic can compact tree roots and be detrimental to the long-term health of the tree. As a result, all materials used in the build were brought in and up by hand. Tree-safe hardware designed to support continued growth and health was used, allowing the trees to continue moving as they would naturally, while the structure remains static.

Given the harsh winters Canada sees, maximizing the efficacy of the insulation was key. Working with building science professionals, a plan was put in place (with a particular focus on floor assembly) designed to keep the treehouse warm through the winter and cool in the summer. Earthen floors in the space – a mixture of sand, straw, and clay combined with water and finished with naturally-occurring hardening oils – minimize environmental impact without sacrificing aesthetics and durability. Bonus: the low winter sun enters the 12-foot south facing window, warming the floor’s thermal mass. In the summer, when the sun is high and the tree cover is full, the floors have a cooling effect.

The treehouse is solar-powered, and propane is used on-demand for the range, oven, and hot water. A Norwegian cast iron fireplace warms the main living space, while solar-powered in-floor heating keeps the bathroom toasty. Ductless heat recovery ventilation units ensure fresh clean indoor air all year long. The property provides the perfect setting to indulge in the benefits of forest bathing, with a wood-fired cedar hot tub and an additional outdoor shower that allows guests to literally bathe amongst the trees.

Eco-friendly and organic amenities and cleaning products are used in the bathroom and kitchen, all of which are refillable. In fact, the same shampoo and soap bottles have been in place since the property opened its doors 1.5 years ago.

Arro Dunes: Twentynine Palms, California

Photo:Courtesy of Arro Dunes

Sitting on 10 acres just outside Joshua Tree, this newly renovated 1950’s era desert abode proves you don’t have to sacrifice style for sustainability. This modern Airbnb known as Arro Dunes, was built by the husband and wife team behind Los Angeles based interior and creative studio, Studio Marrant.

Combining natural materials with minimalist décor and a Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic, Arro Dunes is a perfect example of how to furnish and style a home with the environment in mind. Sustainable design sits at the heart of this property and has been mindfully applied throughout the space. The kitchen and bathroom are built out of Tadelakt, a plaster traditionally used in Moroccan architecture. Tadelakt is made of natural materials, does not contain volatile organic compounds and is said to be naturally mold and mildew resistant. The entire home is painted in limewash, a natural, non-toxic alternative to traditional household paints. The high pH level of limewash is said to inhibit microorganisms, and the chemical makeup helps improve interior air quality.

The home blends thoughtfully-curated antiques with minimalist modern décor. Pieces are sourced locally, a conscious decision to bypass mass-consumerism of new products. The bedrooms are outfitted with 100% flax linen bedding and Tuft & Needle mattresses, an eco-friendly brand that rigorously tests for off-gassing and indoor air quality compliance. The interior design, with accents of desert flora and a neutral, earth-toned color palette, mirrors the desert landscape outside oversized dual pane windows.

The outdoor space shaded by Tamarisk trees with 360-degree mountain views is a handsome contrast of wood, stone, and steel, set against a backdrop of golden desert hues. A 10-foot cowboy stock tank pool paired with a 100% energy-free wood burning hot tub ticks the desert recreation boxes, while being mindful of consumption. Given the strong exposure of the desert sun, as much is charged off solar power as possible, with plans underway to integrate it more fully throughout the property in the near term.

Lilypad: Palm Beach, New South Wales

Photo: Courtesy of Lilypad Palm Beach

Floating just meters from the shore of Sydney’s Palm Beach, this private eco-villa, appropriately named Lilypad, is perfect for a luxury isolated stay. Breaking the mold of traditional boating design, this off-the-grid escape has been an 8-year journey in the making, driven by design foresight and the ambition to sustainably innovate. The goal was to execute a seamless flow between century old traditional trade techniques and modern sustainable luxuries, while creating a connection with the surrounding marine environment.

An 8kilowatt solar panel system powers everything on board, from the lighting, television, kitchen appliances, and infrared sauna, proving you don’t have to compromise luxury. A desalination system removes the salt and impurities from the seawater on which the vessel floats to create high quality freshwater that is used on board. Waste treatment units imported from Germany treat the waste fluids to allow them to be reused for watering plants.

Opening its doors March 2022, raw materials will be featured prominently throughout the space, including recycled hardwood timbers sourced from a bridge near Mudgee, New South Wales, and a natural lime-based plaster finish on the interior and exterior walls. In partnership with sustainability-minded businesses, the space will be furnished using natural materials such as clay, cane, teak and linen from McMullin and Co., and environmentally-friendly bed and bath linens from Cultiver.

Guests’ stay is inclusive of meals that are prepared offsite by Lilypad’s Head Chef, and an onboard wine cellar with a selection of low intervention wines from L.A.S Vino using sustainable, organic and biodynamic vineyard methods. The vessel comes equipped with stand-up paddleboards and other recreation equipment, as well as a private self-drive tender allowing guests to explore nearby beaches with a picnic in tow. Arrangements can also be made for on-board spa treatments to dial up the luxury factor.

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Midland ISD is upgrading its heating, cooling and air purification systems. The district plans to begin replacing HVAC systems before the start of the next school year, thanks in large part to a federal grant.

The district intends to use $10 million in ESSER II funding and $5 million in local funding to upgrade HVAC systems across the district, starting with 24 campuses whose air conditioning and heating units have been identified as needing to be replaced.

With aging equipment comes more frequent outages and repairs – ramifications that have been felt by students and teachers alike when temperatures rise at the start of the school year. The HVAC replacement project will tackle this issue, according to Kellie Spencer, chief of Administrative Services.

“These upcoming HVAC upgrades will help create an environment where students can focus on learning, not the temperature inside,” shared Spencer.

The project involves more than heating and cooling. Indoor air quality will be addressed by upgrading outside air intakes for all air handler units. Air intake upgrades will help keep indoor air fresher and cleaner. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, districts across the US have received federal funding through ESSER. A major component of ESSER II is to address air quality in schools.

Air intake upgrades will complement the filter work that began in MISD schools two years ago, when the district switched from filters with a MERV 8 rating to ones rated at MERV 13. In short, the higher the MERV rating, the better a filter traps specific kinds of particles.

MISD anticipates a major reduction in annual utility consumption and associated operational costs with new HVAC units.

“Our plan is to install several new boilers and chillers, refresh air handlers and upgrade or replace existing panels, switchgear and secondary pumps,” said Wes Jones, director of Maintenance. “The new equipment will be much more energy efficient than the old ones they’re replacing, some of which are more than 30 years old.”

Greater energy efficiency means financial savings for taxpayers, and it also means less power consumption at peak times, which is good for the electrical grid and the community. Plus, ONCOR offers rebates for organizations that install energy efficient equipment.

“That money goes straight into our utilities fund to help maintain our equipment,” Spencer said.

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LENEXA, KAN. (MARCH 28, 2022) – The Biden-Harris Administration today submitted to Congress the President’s Budget for fiscal year 2023.

The President’s Budget details his vision to expand on the historic progress our country has made over the last year and deliver the agenda he laid out in his State of the Union address—to build a better America, reduce the deficit, reduce costs for families, and grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out.

The Budget makes historic investments to advance key priorities in the FY 2022-2026 EPA Strategic Plan, including tackling the climate crisis, advancing environmental justice, protecting air quality, upgrading the Nation’s aging water infrastructure, and rebuilding core functions at the Agency.

“The President’s budget request for EPA reflects this Administration’s unwavering commitment to protect people from pollution, especially those living in overburdened and underserved communities across America. It funds a broad suite of transformational programs enacted by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and it will enable us to implement the President’s historic Justice40 commitment, among other key priorities,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.

“Almost half of the Budget announced today, $5.7 billion, will support Tribes, states, and localities, reaffirming EPA’s commitment to work in concert with our partners and local communities to tackle the climate crisis and ensure that no American family has to worry about the air they breathe, the water they drink, or the environmental safety of their homes and workplaces.”

The Budget makes critical investments in the American people that will help lay a stronger foundation for shared growth and prosperity for generations to come. At the EPA, the Budget invests in:

• Upgrading Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Nationwide. The Budget provides approximately $4 billion to advance efforts to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure nationwide, with a focus on underserved communities. The Budget funds 20 new targeted water grant programs authorized in the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA). In total, more than $940 million in new resources are provided to implement DWWIA in FY 2023. The Budget also supports water infrastructure with an increase of $160 million in grants to reduce lead in drinking water and an increase of $240 million for the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse grant program. The Budget proposes a new $25 million water sector cybersecurity grant program. The Budget also maintains funding for the State Revolving Funds, which will complement the $23.4 billion provided for the traditional SRF programs over five years in the recently enacted Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
• Ensuring Clean and Healthy Air for All Communities. The Budget allocates $1.1 billion to improve air quality and reduce localized pollution, reduce exposure to radiation, and improve indoor air for communities across the country. This includes $152 million to support the development and implementation of national emission standards to reduce air pollution from vehicles, engines and fuels. The Budget also supports $299 million to assist air pollution control agencies in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and to establish standards for reducing air toxics.
• Tackling the Climate Crisis. The Budget prioritizes funding for tackling the climate crisis and invests an additional $100 million in grants to Tribes and states that will support on-the-ground efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency in the Nation’s infrastructure. The Budget proposes an additional $35 million to implement the American Innovation in Manufacturing Act to continue phasing out potent greenhouse gases known as hydrofluorocarbons and invests an additional $13 million in wildfire prevention and readiness.
• Advancing Environmental Justice. The Administration is committed to increasing efforts to deliver environmental justice in communities across the Nation. The Budget supports the President’s Justice40 commitment to ensure at least 40 percent of the benefits of federal investments in climate and clean energy reach historically overburdened and underserved communities. The Budget invests more than $1.45 billion across the Agency’s programs that will help create good-paying jobs, clean up pollution, advance racial equity, and secure environmental justice for all communities. To elevate environmental justice as a top Agency priority, EPA has proposed a new national environmental justice program office, to coordinate and maximize the benefits of the Agency’s programs and activities for underserved communities.
• Protecting Communities from Hazardous Waste and Environmental Damage. Preventing and cleaning up environmental damage that harms communities and poses a risk to public health and safety continues to be a top priority for the Administration. The Budget provides $1.15 billion for EPA’s Superfund programs to continue cleaning up some of the Nation’s most contaminated land and respond to environmental emergencies. The Budget also includes $215 million for EPA’s Brownfields programs to provide technical assistance and grants to communities, including overburdened and underserved communities, so they can safely clean up and reuse once contaminated properties. The Budget supports additional Community Development Specialists to manage land revitalization projects and works with Tribal, rural, and overburdened and underserved communities to address brownfields.
• Strengthening Our Commitment and Ability to Successfully Implement Toxic Substances and Control Act (TSCA). The Budget provides $124 million and 449 FTE for TSCA efforts to deliver on the promises made to the American people by the bipartisan Lautenberg Act. These resources will support EPA-initiated chemical risk evaluations and protective regulations in accordance with statutory timelines.
• Tackling Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Pollution. PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that threaten the health and safety of communities across the Nation. As part of the President’s commitment to tackling PFAS pollution, the Budget provides approximately $126 million in FY 2023 for EPA to increase its understanding of human health and ecological effects of PFAS, restrict uses to prevent PFAS from entering the air, land, and water, and remediate PFAS that have been released into the environment. EPA will continue to act on the Agency’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap to safeguard communities from PFAS contamination.
• Enforcing and Assuring Compliance with the Nation’s Environmental Laws. The Budget provides $213 million for civil enforcement efforts, which includes increasing enforcement efforts in communities with high pollution exposure and to prevent the illegal importations and use of hydrofluorocarbons in the U. S. The Budget also includes $7 million to operate a coal combustion residuals compliance program, $148 million for compliance monitoring efforts, and $69 million for criminal enforcement efforts, including the development of a specialized criminal enforcement task force to address environmental justice issues in partnership with the Department of Justice.
• Restoring Critical Capacity to Carry Out EPA’s Core Mission. The Budget includes more than 1,900 new Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) relative to current levels, for a total of more than 16,200 FTEs, to help rebuild the Agency’s capacity. Restoring staffing capacity across the Agency will facilitate and expedite EPA’s work to reduce air, water, and climate pollution and advance environmental justice. The Budget continues to strengthen the Agency’s ability to recruit, hire, develop, promote, and retain top talent and remove barriers to equal opportunity at the management and staff levels in order to strengthen and advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

For more information on the President’s FY 2023 Budget, please visit: President’s Budget,

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It seems that over the past few years, our culture has become more obsessed with “getting fit.” Whether you’re looking for meditation or punching bags, Amarillo has tons of options.

Yoga In Amarillo?

Never, before moving here, would I have guessed that Amarillo has so many places where you can get your chakra aligned with some panhandle yoga.

What I found interesting, is that a majority of the gyms in town all offer some kind of yoga class. If that’s not what you’re looking for, there are plenty of choices for a more spiritual experience.

Check out the map of places that offer yoga in one form or another (in red).

Meditation In Amarillo?

Yes. If you’re needing to experience calm and inner peace, Amarillo has several places where you can get in some guided meditation.

Some of these places are the same ones where you can get in some yoga. So, theoretically, you could get your chakras all in line and then ignore the thoughts you’re having about the experience.

Check out the map of places to get in some meditation in Amarillo.

We’ve Got A Lot Of Gyms In Amarillo

Holy smokes we’ve got a lot of gyms. A simple Google search brings up page upon page of results.

Here’s the thing about gyms in Amarillo. We definitely have exactly what you’re looking for, it just might take some digging and calling around before you find your fitness home.

It’s taken me the better part of six months or so to finally settle on a gym where I’m getting exactly what I’m looking for.

Check out this map of just the gyms that we offer.

They’re everywhere.

Is Amarillo A Good Town For Getting Fit?

Honestly, it looks like Amarillo might not be a bad place to be if you have goals regarding getting fit. Plus, our proximity to Palo Duro Canyon adds something really unique. In the warmer months, when it’s not scorching hot, the canyon is a great place to go get in a hike or a scenic jog.

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