Vaughan, Ontario Canada, Jan. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Empire Communities, one of North America’s largest privately held homebuilders, is pleased to announce the acquisition of ERTH — a new green building initiative centered around the builder’s commitment to offering more sustainable and healthier home and community features. ERTH’s initial focus aims to enhance homebuyers’ health and well-being by creating improved indoor air quality (IAQ) while reducing environmental impact through sustainable building practices.

Having won more than 35 Green Awards since 2007, Empire Communities has long been a champion of sustainable construction and energy-efficient homes through various initiatives including the long-standing practice of energy rating its houses since 2003. Understanding that homebuilding practices and standards continue to change, the acquisition of ERTH seeks to drive innovation, test new technologies, and build upon Empire’s position as a leader in the green building space.

“As we move into our 30th year of homebuilding, we believe that the diversification of our business into more innovation-driven initiatives will continue to position Empire as the builder of choice for homebuyers across North America, says Andrew and Dan Guizzetti, co-CEOs of Empire Communities.

Leading the initiative is Andrew Guido, Empire’s newly appointed Vice President, Sustainability & Innovation. With over 30 years of strategic leadership experience in the real estate development industry, Guido has advised some of Canada’s largest enterprises and real estate development companies, including Empire. Together with the North American Operating Divisions, Guido will drive Empire’s sustainability and innovation initiatives. Along with Guido, the company has built a team to oversee its vision and commitment.

“With the introduction of ERTH, we look towards improving the built environment with a selection of packages and upgrades initially focused on single-family homes in our Southwestern Ontario communities,” says Guido.

Empire’s continued commitment to testing and researching energy-efficient ways to build healthier and more sustainable homes will provide its homeowners with features that will allow them to live comfortably in homes that have been designed to improve their well-being and reduce their impact on the planet.

EMPIRE COMMUNITIES  

Empire Communities is a residential builder/developer involved in all sectors of the new home-building industry, including both low-rise and high-rise built forms. Celebrating 30 years of building inspiring new places to live, Empire has an established tradition of creating prestigious award-winning new homes, communities and amenities and has earned a reputation for outstanding attention to detail and customer service. Since its inception in 1993, Empire has built and sold over 32,000 new homes and condos. Today, Empire is one of North America’s largest privately held integrated residential homebuilders, with current communities in Toronto, Southwestern Ontario, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.

 

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The Office of Climate and Sustainability will concentrate the city’s efforts towards environmental progress, with goals including conservation efforts and implementing clean energy in residential and public spaces.

Natasha Khazzam

1:09 am, Jan 30, 2023

Staff Reporter

Courtesy of City of New Haven

A new city department aims to promote energy efficiency, conservation efforts and investment in clean energy for residential and public spaces alike. 

Last month, Mayor Justin Elicker officially established the Office of Climate and Sustainability, which will be headed by executive director and former alder Steve Winter ’11. Funded by federal American Rescue Plan allocations, this new office is a part of the Elicker administration’s long-term goal to effectively address the ongoing climate crisis. 

“Climate change intersects with so many issues that our residents are challenged by every day,” Winter told the News. “Safe and affordable housing, clean air, public health and public health equity issues are all tied up in the same issues we have in terms of addressing climate change and the pollution that causes climate change.” 

One of the department’s primary aims is to address climate change equitably, focusing on the electrification of residential homes in low-income areas in addition to reducing the city’s overall carbon footprint. Winter, who is currently the sole head of the department, discussed his goals to improve energy efficiency in residential properties, lower utility bills for residents and improve general housing quality within the city.

Winter also highlighted an element of the state’s EnergizeCT initiative called the Home Energy Solutions energy efficiency program. The program provides free installation of weatherization equipment, insulation and windows to residents with gross incomes below 60 percent of the state’s income median. He noted the importance of continuing expansion and support for such initiatives in order to lower utility bills for residents and make energy efficiency tangible within the city.

From a $5 million proposal of federal American Rescue Plan funding, the city’s Board of Alders decided in August to allocate $2 million towards various residential investments. Another $2 million went towards city-wide initiatives seeking to reduce New Haven’s carbon footprint. The last $1 million was channeled towards the creation of the Office of Climate and Sustainability to support both an executive director and a policy analyst. 

“Confronting climate change is a question of our time, and it reflects on our ability to work collaboratively as a global community,” said Elicker in a press conference on Dec. 12. “Not only do we need to see that action globally at the national level, but also at the municipal level.”

With regard to general city policies addressing climate change, Winter expressed his desire to reduce public and private waste and increase local participation in composting and recycling. In addition to its negative impact on the environment, waste disposal also poses a fiscal challenge. Winter noted that New Haven expends large quantities of money to haul off and incinerate public and private waste — funds that he said could otherwise be used for more beneficial causes. 

Winter also hopes to employ renewable energy sources such as solar power to meet the city’s energy needs, as well as continuing efforts to electrify public transportation and buildings by 2030. These goals would align with the 2021 Community Electrification Resolution, a set of climate goals passed by the Board of Alders.

At the December press conference, Elicker nodded to the city’s past efforts towards addressing climate change, specifically with regard to coastal resiliency. He discussed the importance of continuing to protect the Long Wharf Corridor through economic development and fighting adverse effects of climate change through the installation of bioswales to protect against flooding. 

The city’s connection to its various shorelines, specifically the water at Long Wharf, has declined due to highway infrastructure and rapid urbanization. Amid rising sea levels and threats of flooding, economic development of the area and protection of its shorelines will improve its resilience to climate-induced disasters.

At the press conference announcing the new department, Kai Addae, chair of the New Haven Climate Emergency Task Force, reiterated the city’s goal of reducing community emissions to zero by 2030. 

“Most days, I am scared, but today I am really hopeful and grateful that [Winter] is taking on this possession and that the city is dedicating more resources, more manpower to climate resilience and sustainability,” she said.

The Office of Climate and Sustainability was created in December of 2022.

NATASHA KHAZZAM

Natasha Khazzam covers climate & the environment. Originally from Great Neck, New York, she is a first-year in Davenport College majoring in history and linguistics.

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Fantastic performance and fuel economy

Roseville, Calif.- Although it debuted more than two decades ago, the Volvo S60 has never found a niche and has been lost in the midst of more heralded compact luxury sedans.

In 2021, sales of the S60 dipped to 10,550. And that was far from the bottom. The official count for 2022 will likely be just under 6,000, less than one-sixth of the S60s sold in 2002, its top sales year ever.

Needing to bolster the entry level luxury sedan, the Swedish auto manufacturer adds the new 2023 Volvo S60 Recharge, a plug-in hybrid with fantastic performance and fuel economy.

Several years ago, Volvo decided to designate a name for its lineup of electric vehicles, putting the tag of Recharge on any hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEV) or all-electric vehicles. Recharge vehicles in Volvo-speak, will benefit from a more powerful electric motor and a larger battery pack. The Recharge tag appears on all its hybrid or electric vehicles.

Ambitious Plans, 8 Models

Volvo has ambitious plans to electrify its brand. In 2020, the company stated it would launch an electrified car every year with a goal of reaching 50 percent of its global sales by 2025. It currently offers Recharge models in eight vehicles – C40, XC40, XC60, XC90, S60, S90, V60, and V90.

All versions of the Volvo S60 received subtle changes to their interior and exterior styling. Overall, the S60 brand is a stylish sedan that delivers a pleasing driving experience, yet not as good as several more high-priced sportier rivals.

In electric mode, the S60 Recharge will go 41 miles before switching over to the gas-powered engine. The 14.9-kWh battery can be recharged in about four hours using a 240-volt outlet and around nine hours using a standard 120-volt home outlet. The plug-in hybrid gets 74 MPG-equivalent in EV mode and 30 mpg when gas powered.

Performance-laden

What will grab the attention of potential buyers of the S60 Recharge PHEV is the company’s claims that it’s the most performance-laden Volvo ever. Stepping heavily on the gas pedal may have drivers wondering if this is indeed a Volvo, which has never been known for producing high-speed vehicles.

The all-wheel drive Recharge PHEV has a single electric motor and a turbocharged 2.0-liter, inline-four that generates a combined 455 horsepower and 523 pound-feet of torque. The engine generates 312 horsepower and 143 hp comes from the rear-mounted electric motor. The combination produces sportscar-like acceleration, traveling 0-60 in 4.1 seconds.

Offered in four trim models (Core, Plus, Ultimate, Polestar Engineered), the S60 Recharge provides a smooth and comfortable ride. It definitely has a fun factor, cornering with precision and providing sharp handling on challenging, curvy roads.

Standard driver-assistance safety features include forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection, traffic-sign recognition, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and rear parking sensors.

Inside the S60 Recharge

The S60 Recharge offers a luxury interior that is modern, well-built and utilizes mostly high-quality materials that includes a cool crystal shift knob. All versions of the S60 get a standard panoramic moonroof, dual-zone climate control with an air purifier, leather seats, Harman Kardons sound system, 9-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and voice recognition.

The S60 also comes equipped with a new Google-based infotainment system that includes a voice recognition Google assistant and Google maps navigation system.

All five passengers will be comfortable in both rows, where leg and head room are solid, even for taller folks. A downside to the interior is a small trunk that measures 11.6 cubic feet. The rear seats fold down to create large storage capacity.

Thanks to the 2023 Volvo S60 Recharge plug-in hybrid, sales could receive a much-needed bolster this year. The compact luxury sedan is extremely quick, gets good fuel economy, and has lots of safety features that one expects with a Volvo.

AT A GLANCE – 2023 VOLVO S60 RECHARGE PLUG-IN HYBRID

• Performance: Electric motor, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 455 horsepower
• Mileage estimate: 74 mpge
• Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles; drivetrain: 4 years/50,000 miles; roadside assistance: 4 years/unlimited; corrosion: 12 years/unlimited; hybrid-electric system: 8 years, 100,000 miles
• Price estimate: $51,300 to $57,950

Roseville Today is locally owned & community supported.
We have NO affiliation with print, politics or corporate media.
(Now in our 20th Year)

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WASHINGTON — The White House on Friday announced plans to speed up the use of infrastructure law funds to replace lead pipes in underserved communities, with a focus on Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin beginning this year.

The four states, each led by Democratic governors, will be part of what’s called the Lead Service Replacement Accelerators program in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Labor.

The administration characterized it as a way to “drive progress” in using the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding dedicated to removing and replacing lead lines that carry drinking water to homes and schools. Exposure to lead in drinking water, particularly in children or pregnant women, can cause lasting neurological damage.

“​​Our Lead Service Line Replacement Accelerators demonstrate our commitment to ensuring every community has access to safe, clean drinking water,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement Friday. 

“By leveraging the historic investment made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are moving one step closer to achieving President Biden’s vision of 100% lead-free water systems for all.”

 

Help for communities

The new initiative is meant to bring “hands-on support” and technical assistance from the EPA to guide communities through the lead service line removal process. That assistance might include help completing federal grant and loan applications, or expertise in finding labor and contractors.

Up to 10 million households and 400,000 schools and child care centers have lead service lines, according to the White House.

Some of the communities set to participate in the new plan include:

• East Newark and Newark, New Jersey
• Erie County and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Edgerton, Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, Sheboygan and Wausau, Wisconsin

“It should be a right of every occupant of this earth and certainly of our country to have clean water, let’s just start there. Then let us understand, because many may not be aware, sadly, that it is not a right that is guaranteed to all the occupants of our country,” said Vice President Kamala Harris at the Accelerating Lead Pipe Replacement Summit held Friday at the White House.

“In many communities, families, children, parents cannot take for granted that they will turn on a tap and that clean water will come out. And I think we would all agree there is nothing about this that should be considered a luxury or an option,” Harris said during the summit’s keynote conversation with Regan.

Invited guests who attended the summit included mayors, philanthropic organizations, advocacy groups and community leaders.

Harris sent a letter to governors across the U.S. inviting them to join a wider, overarching coalition called the Biden-Harris Get the Lead Out Partnership. 

So far it has brought together 123 municipalities, water utilities, community organizations and labor unions that have agreed to deploy federal funds to replace lead pipes, according to the vice president’s office.

“We have labor, nonprofits, our agencies, and the private sector, all who are here with one thing in mind, and that’s to get lead pipes out of all of our communities,” Regan said Friday.

 

How funds are divided

The administration budgeted $15 billion in infrastructure funds over several years for the EPA to divvy up among states for lead service line replacements. 

Another $11.7 billion was directed toward the EPA’s state revolving fund meant to support a range of water quality projects, including lead pipe replacements.

In 2022 the administration allocated a portion of the funds to states and territories to cover the next five years of lead line fixes.

The states that received the highest allocations were California, Texas, New York, Illinois, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina and Massachusetts.

“Pennsylvanians have a constitutional right to clean air and pure water, but far too many communities here in Pennsylvania suffer from old and outdated lead pipes that endanger the health of our children and families,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a statement Friday about being named to the accelerator program. 

“My Administration is ready to work with President Biden, Vice President Harris, and our federal partners to make life-saving investments that will deliver clean drinking to families across the Commonwealth, especially in communities that have been left behind for too long.”

Allotments for 2023 are expected to be announced in the spring after the EPA publishes its latest, legally required Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs and Survey Assessment, according to the agency.

Some advocacy organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, criticized the breakdown of last year’s funds, arguing that states with the most lead pipes — like Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey and Ohio — were receiving fewer funds per replacement than states with fewer lead pipes.

“Every state has lead service lines, but some have significantly more than others. The highest concentration of lead service lines delivering water to homes are in the upper Midwest and Northeast states as well as Texas,” the NRDC’s Cyndi Roper wrote in July.

 

Risks of childhood lead poisoning not equal

Not all children and families are equally susceptible to lead exposure. The risk is greater for those who live in low-income households and in older homes where lead plumbing fixtures, pipes and lead-based paint have not been replaced or remediated.

Research as recent as 2021 continues to show that Black children and children in low-income communities consistently show higher blood lead levels than their non-Hispanic white counterparts.

“It is up to communities to hold our elected officials accountable [for] implementing the infrastructure bill. It’s up to utilities to share what they need to ramp up their lead service line [replacement] programs. Most importantly, it is up to our government agencies and mayors and governors to act with a sense of urgency to prioritize removing every single lead service line,” Deanna Branch, of the Milwaukee-based Coalition for Lead Emergency, said at Friday’s White House summit.

Branch was accompanied at the podium by her 9-year-old son, Aiden, who at the age of 2 was hospitalized with lead poisoning.

No level of lead is safe for children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

The CDC estimates that about a half a million children in the U.S. have elevated blood lead levels, meaning the amount of lead found during a blood test is higher than most other children.

Some of the most common sources of exposure include lead paint in older housing stock, water carried through lead pipes, soil and dust near industrial sites and imported toys or jewelry.

Children under age 6 are most at risk for lead poisoning because of their hand-to-mouth behavior and because their developing nervous systems are vulnerable to what can be permanent effects of lead exposure, including lower IQ, behavioral problems, developmental delays and learning difficulties.

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I am looking for a recommendation of an easy-to-grow houseplant to start out with at home. Hope to have success with my first foray into growing houseplants.

— Leticia Brooks, Evanston

Pothos are tropical vining plants that are easy to care for, so will make a great choice for you. There are different cultivars of pothos, which will give you a variety of foliage colors and patterns to choose from, but all lack flowers, so you grow them for foliage. Pothos are also readily available to purchase. They tolerate a wide range of interior environments and perform well in bright, indirect light as well as lower light conditions, giving you a lot of flexibility in where you can grow them at home. If you purchase a heavily variegated cultivar, it may not grow as well in low light or may lose its variegation if the light is too low — especially if the variegation is white. Only the green parts of the leaves can make energy for the plant, so it must be able to get enough light for energy or its growth will slow or the leaves will compensate for the lack of light by increasing the amount of green in the leaves. As an additional benefit, pothos plants help improve indoor air quality. They do not do well in direct sunlight though. Pothos plants are poisonous and can cause irritation and vomiting if eaten, as they contain calcium oxalates. The sap from the plant’s leaves and stems may cause highly sensitive people to break out in a rash.

Pothos plants work well in hanging baskets, plants stands and bookshelves. (RJ Carlson / Chicago Botanic Garden)

Pothos vines do not cling to trellises and supports on their own, but they may be trained onto supports to give the appearance of twining. If you are growing them in a pot, prune them as necessary to control their growth. Pothos work well in hanging baskets, plants stands and bookshelves. Use any growing medium formulated for containers or houseplants when you need to repot your pothos. Pothos plants tolerate moderate periods of dry conditions, so let the growing medium dry out before watering again. Plan to water more often when the plants are in brighter light and less often in lower light conditions. Leaves that start to yellow and black stems both indicate overwatering, while wilting signals underwatering. You may fertilize your pothos plant once every one to three months for faster growth, but most gardeners get sufficient plant growth with very little fertilizer.

For more plant advice, contact the Plant Information Service at the Chicago Botanic Garden at [email protected]. Tim Johnson is senior director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

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AC Repair Services Boynton Beach, Florida

AC Maintenance Service

AC Repair Specialists in Florida – Cool Air Services

HVAC Repair Services

AC Service Florida

Cool Air Services offers cooling and heating servicing throughout Florida, United States, helping to solve indoor comfort challenges effectively.

BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, January 28, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — Florida has long, hot summers that last from May to October. The typical average high temperature in July is around 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter in Florida is quite short and dry, which lasts from December to February. In January, some areas have average lows of up to 49 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, the need for cooling and heating services does not stop even during winter in Florida.

Cool Air Services offers cooling and heating servicing throughout South Florida, United States to solve indoor comfort challenges for both business and residential clients. In order to improve air quality in residential or commercial areas, the company can repair or retrofit existing ventilation systems. The trained and certified air conditioning technicians at Cool Air Services provide not only repair services but also installation, sales, preventive maintenance, and cleaning.

Cool Air Services has over 20 years of experience in providing maintenance, diagnostic, and repair services for air conditioning systems. They additionally serve heating, ventilation, and air conditioning needs throughout the Florida area. The air conditioning and heating technicians, sales representatives, or supervisors of the Air Cool Services are highly professional, providing compassionate and friendly service with minimal disruption to the normal functioning of a home or office.

As a reliable and efficient HVAC contractor, this company has been providing reliable service throughout the Treasure Coast. The products and services that Cool Air Services provides to its clients include:

. HVAC Repair
. HVAC Servicing
. HVAC Installation
. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
. Duct Repair, Installation, and Inspection Services

Air Conditioning sales, Repairs, and Services in Florida:

Having an air conditioning system regularly maintained is essential to a home’s level of comfort. If the system isn’t running to the best of its abilities, it could consume more energy than necessary and not provide the required comfort. Maintaining a home’s HVAC systems is just as important as keeping up with maintenance on your automobile.

Cool Air Services takes care of AC units and HVAC systems in homes or commercial spaces to keep them running smoothly. The extensively trained technicians here ensure maximum air circulation, which ensures superior comfort. They clean indoor and outdoor coils during an inspection, which increases system efficiency and reduces costs.
Above all, they have a long experience with flawless air system installation of any size. This company is committed to excellence and total satisfaction.

Maintain Better Indoor Air Quality in Florida:

EPA studies show indoor air can be ten times more polluted than outdoor air, even in the smoggiest cities. That’s why many are now more aware of indoor air quality. Especially those who have people with allergies or asthma at home need to be more careful about this.
Cool Air Services expertly installs air cleaners as part of a home’s central heating and cooling system. That’s why central heating and cooling systems become whole-house air cleaners. Plus, the maintenance of this system is quite easy.

AC Repair & Installation Services Throughout the Treasure Coast:

Since 2001, Cool Air Services has been providing heating and air conditioning repair services to businesses and homes in Boynton Beach and surrounding South Florida locations. The company’s experienced technicians can fix your air conditioning system with speed and precision. The technicians swiftly repair any brand of equipment with advanced knowledge of each system’s requirements. This is due to the continual training required by the company. Additionally, they are licensed and insured.

Cool Air Services, Inc.
2453 Quantum Blvd, Boynton Beach, FL 33426
(772) 758-2258
https://coolairservices.com/
https://coolairservices.com/ac-service/

Cool Air Services
Cool Air Services
+1 772-758-2258
[email protected]
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January 28, 2023, 23:43 GMT

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↓ Continue Reading To See This Amazing Video

The croton plant, also known as Codiaeum variegatum, boasts vibrant variegated leaves and virtually endless leaf configurations. If are interested in growing a houseplant with many different varieties, the croton is the right plant to pick.

Outdoor croton plant growth is most successful in warm, muggy areas. They prefer abundant water and full to dappled light. To reproduce their optimal circumstances, it might be difficult to grow croton plants inside for some people in certain locations. However, if you replicate its native outdoor environment, this plant can be quite easy to grow. The croton is a fantastic indoor plant since it grows much more compactly in pots than it does outdoors, where it may grow to be around eight feet tall. Around one foot is often added to the height of Codiaeum variegatum per growing season.

The greatest difficulty in caring for croton plants inside is keeping the right temperature. The plant will start shedding leaves if it gets too chilly. That being said, crotons are well worth the effort for the vibrant color explosion they can bring to a room. Other advantages of croton plants include air purification, humidity boosts, and mood and productivity enhancement. Any time of year, provided that the temperature stays consistently between 70 and 80 degrees F indoors, outdoors, or in a greenhouse, is suitable for planting Codiaeum variegatum. Keep in mind that crotons are poisonous to both people and animals, so choose your planting locations carefully.

Interested in knowing even more about growing beautiful crotons indoors? This guide will break down all of the basics you need to know about growing a croton in your home for years to come.

Water Requirements for Indoor Croton Houseplants

Due to the waxy covering on their leaves, croton plants are fairly drought-tolerant, yet it is simple to overwater them. Water thoroughly when the top two inches of soil have dried off. Another indicator that it’s time to water your croton plant is some wilting of new growth at the ends of the stems. Never let plants stand in standing water, as this can damage their roots. Watering croton plants may be a delicate science, just as with other plants. Watering the croton plant frequently is necessary, but avoid overwatering. While too little water will dry out the humidity-loving plant, too much water can lead to root rot. New croton foliage may be used as a gauge for when it needs water since it will start to wilt when it is dehydrated.

Keep an eye on your croton plant’s (pictured) appearance and behavior when developing the right watering schedule.

©iStock.com/Regina Burganova

Fertilizer Requirements for Indoor Croton Houseplants

Use a quality indoor plant food a month after planting to provide croton plants with the nourishment they require for optimal development. Apply straight to the soil and water as usual once per week, as directed on the label. For smaller pots under six inches in diameter, use one pump; for bigger pots, use two pumps. Reduce feedings in the winter, when growth is slower, to once a month.

Pruning an Indoor Croton

Croton plants don’t need to be pruned, but if lower leaves have fallen off and you want to promote new growth, just cut the branches or stems off at the right height, and the plant will quickly fill out. Snip each stem’s developing tips off to promote a bushier plant. Poinsettias include crotons in their family. A sticky, milky fluid seeps from pruning wounds or areas where leaves or petals have fallen off on all members of this family of plants. Always use gloves while trimming these plants since the sap might give some individuals a rash.

Can A Croton Grow Properly Indoors?

Croton plants may be grown indoors in pots, but they should be placed in a spot with a lot of sunshine exposure. The croton’s hues will dwindle without light. In the event of a dry indoor atmosphere, a humidifier could be beneficial for crotons. The plant may easily get dusty when maintained inside. If this occurs, you may take the plant outside to shower it clean or wipe away any dust and bug droppings with a moist sponge.

Can I Put My Indoor Croton Outside?

Croton plants thrive in strong light indoors, but if you merely take them from your front room into the scorching heat outside on the patio, they will suffer from shock. Croton plants must first be “hardened off” in order to be prepared for the relocation if you want to enjoy them outside throughout the summer.

Start by keeping them outside during the day and bringing them inside at night in a protected spot like a porch or patio. Start putting them outside full-time after three or four days. Move them to the preferred outdoor area in full or dappled sunshine a few days later. Croton plants will shed a few leaves as they acclimate to their new environment when you bring them back inside during the fall.

Potted crotons (pictured) do best when kept either only outside or only inside.

©Anastasia Gubinskaya/Shutterstock.com

How to Grow, Plant, and Maintain Crotons Indoors

Remember that your croton will grow upright and ultimately risk becoming top-heavy when selecting a container for it. Choose a container that won’t topple over easily as the croton grows. Alternately, prepare to gradually move to larger pots. Use a potting mix that drains effectively. Crotons like to be kept damp but not submerged.

Croton is a distinctive and vibrant landscaping plant that may be cultivated outside in regions with hot, muggy summers. They perform nicely planted with annuals or in pots with a tropical theme. Croton must be brought indoors when nighttime lows reach about 50 degrees F. As a result, growing them inside is frequently preferable for their general health, even if it might be challenging.

Croton should be placed in a bright area, such an eastern, southern, or western window. A croton’s younger leaves will be less vibrant if it receives little light. Allow the soil to dry between waterings while keeping it equally wet. If the humidity level in your home or office is low, spray the leaves of your croton once per week with filtered water or put a tray of moist stones next to the plant.

Croton leaves have a tendency to get a bit dusty. To maintain the leaves clean and dust-free, gently wipe them with a wet cloth twice a month. While the plant is actively developing, fertilize it in the spring and summer. Avoid fertilizing more frequently or at all throughout the fall and winter.

Starting new croton plants from four to six-inch stem cuttings is possible. Place the cutting in a glass of water after removing the bottom leaves. Plant in a small container after roots have developed. If the plant has outgrown its current container, repot it in the spring.

Croton plants can have tiny, inconsequential blooms as they mature. The so-called blooms will first emerge as little bulbs that resemble holly berries in size and form and may even have extensions that shoot out like miniature fireworks.

Tips for Growing Crotons Indoors

These plants have a reputation for being picky in part because they frequently give off a negative initial impression. A young Croton plant will frequently lose some or all of its leaves within a few days after being brought home from the store. The new owner is left to wonder, “How did I fail to properly care for a croton houseplant?”

You did not fail; this is typical croton behavior, as they are quite dramatic. Croton plants dislike being moved, and when they are, they can quickly experience shock and lose leaves. So it’s important to keep the plant as stationary as possible. Don’t be alarmed by the loss of leaves if you must move the plant (such as when you acquire one). The plant will recover its leaves quickly with the right care, and after that, it will show itself to be a hardy houseplant.

Like many indoor plants, crotons require the right amount of humidity and irrigation to thrive. It does thrive from high humidity because it is a tropical plant, so placing it on a rock tray or spraying it often will make it look its best. Only water cannon plants in pots when the top of the soil seems dry to the touch. Then, water should be applied until the container’s bottom is filled with water. As the plant cannot handle temperatures below 60 degrees F, it should also be kept away from drafts and the cold. The croton will lose leaves and could die if exposed to temperatures below this.

FAQs About Growing Crotons Indoors

A specific kind of croton plant known as Croton michauxii, or Michaux’s croton, is known by the popular name rushfoil. Throughout the genus, all of the several species are sometimes referred to together by the term “croton.”

There are several types of croton plant varieties. Red, orange, purple, pink, yellow, green, and white are just a few of the hues this plant may grow into. The banana croton, the superb croton, the oakleaf croton, and several more are among the various varieties.

Even if the croton plant is not the most deadly species, you shouldn’t take a chance and consume it. It can produce nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other similar symptoms when ingested in high amounts. The croton plant also releases a sap that can irritate skin and discolor clothing. Cats and humans may both be impacted by the croton plant in a similar way. Croton sap can be harmful to cats if consumed. Because the leaves are large and vibrantly colored, cats may find them to be quite attractive. In the event that you have both a cat and a croton plant, place the plant out of your cat’s reach. Take your cat or other pet to the doctor if you feel they may have consumed any part of a croton plant and they are acting sluggish or vomiting.

The cast iron plant and the poinsettia are distant cousins of croton, which is a member of the Euphorbiaceae plant family. One species of croton, Croton tiglium, has a history of being used medicinally as a purgative. Croton plants are now largely employed for their ornamental qualities. An otherwise green environment is given a splash of color by the addition of a croton plant.

Although common houseplant pests like mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects can affect crotons, they are often free of pests and diseases.

Crotons are the perfect indoor plant for those who don’t mind the challenge of replicating their native habitat indoors. If you put the effort in, you’ll have a large and beautiful croton that will grow a whopping foot each year. What’s not to love about these big, lovely plants?

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GRANT PARISH – Their chickens had leukemia.

The Hoskins family, residents of a community outside Colfax known as The Rock, wonder how long they had been eating the eggs of the cancerous birds they raised outside their home. It haunts them.

It’s one of the nightmares they and others in The Rock say they have endured from exposure to the toxins released from a hazardous waste facility less than 2 miles away. Its operating permit is up for renewal, and they pray it will be denied.

“It’s gotten too horrible,” said Susan Hoskins, a lifelong resident of The Rock.

Hoskins’ family has lived in The Rock for six generations. Her daughter, Sliska Larry, raised her own kids there and now her grandkids – ages 3, 4 and 9 – live there.

I would like to live to see my great grandchildren breathe clean air.

– Susan Hoskins, resident of The Rock

Larry told the Illuminator how it was before the chickens died, when her extended family from throughout Central Louisiana would come to The Rock.

“When we’d get together, it was a glorious time. There’s gonna be some food cooking, card playing, dominoes,” Larry said. “If we got something extra, we’d share. If they killed a hog, everybody in the neighborhood gonna have some meat.”

The family would play zydeco music and downhome blues, and cook meals with their homegrown greens, bell peppers and corn. But no longer.

“We can’t do that now because you can’t be outside,” Larry said.

The Rock’s residents say they can’t fish in nearby waters, picnic outside or laze with their children on the lawn watching the clouds roll by. Swing sets are idle, old folks no longer play cards outside or listen to the evening birdsong while sitting on their porches.

Signs are displayed in the window of a home in The Rock community in opposition to the renewal of a state permit for the Clean Harbors Colfax hazardous waste disposal facility. The open burn pit is less than 2 miles from The Rock. (Photo by Remi Tallo)

Garden beds, once bursting with purple peas, okra, tomatoes, potatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes and cucumbers, are overrun with weeds. The Hoskins’ once bustling chicken coop now houses the family dog. The family relied on their fresh vegetables, fruits, chickens and eggs for everyday sustenance. Now they survive by sharing what they can afford to purchase or donations from area food pantries.

“If one don’t have, we call each other, and then we try to make enough so everybody can eat,” Larry said.

“We relied on our gardens for our basics,” Clay said. “What we could grow in our garden was our free meals. Now we go into the grocery stores and you see the mustard greens, maybe two for $3, and we have to pay for it. Eggs is sky high!”

None of the staples of rural Louisiana living are safe, according to neighbors of Clean Harbors Colfax, a facility that disposes old munitions from Camp Minden and expired fireworks from Disney World. Thick pillars of black smoke from the open burn pit are visible from backyards in The Rock.

Clean Harbors opened the open-burn disposal site in 2002 and expanded it in 2015. The Massachusetts company is asking the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) to add a closed-burn structure when it renews its operations permit.

Clean Harbors has not responded to questions from the Illuminator about neighbors’ health concerns.

Deborah Clay, left, and Brenda Redmond live in The Rock, where residents say report health problems they believe are linked to the Clean Harbors Colfax hazardous waste facility less than 2 miles from their homes. (Photo by Remi Tallo)

Deborah Clay, who lives in one of seven homes that comprise The Rock, has lost almost all of her hair. She’s lived in the community off Louisiana Highway 71 for more than four decades.

“I used to have beautiful shining hair,” Clay said. “I have memories where sometimes I just sit back and cry about things. I know what I used to look like compared to what I look like now.”

Ray Boutte, who helped tend the Hoskins’ chickens, has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Angie Sanders, a relative who often visits from nearby Colfax, has chronic sinus allergies. It’s rare for her not to clutch a tissue.

“I know they don’t want me blowing my nose and trying to play cards,” Sanders said. “My nose is always running. I cough, my throat hurts.”

Larry witnessed her sister-in-law’s last breath in Hoskins’ living room, where the family was tending her as she neared death. Rhonda Wells had lived in Colfax for 30 years when she fell victim to cancer.

“It’s a hard feeling to watch somebody that you love, that you grew up with all your life, that’s only 52 years old, aspirate that last time. She was fighting to live,” Larry said.

Brenda Redmond said Clean Harbors detonates wastes three times daily – around 8 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. Neighbors blame the blasts for a recent water line rupture.

“I have a two-story house up here. When they bomb, my house shakes,” Redmond said. I lost two windows from the right side of the house. I can’t even pull the window [open].”

She drinks bottled water in fear of contamination.

“When I take a bath, I say, ‘Well, Lord …’” Redmond said. “People say I talk about the Lord all the time, but if you’re not holding on to your Holy Spirit, this situation with Clean Harbors is gonna break you down.”

Parents in The Rock say they fear for their children’s health. Larry says all three of her grandkids have persistent sore throats, runny noses and coughing.

“In Colfax, all [doctors] know is allergies. They give you the [antihistamines], they give you the little pink medicine, amoxicillin. But guess what? Two weeks later, the baby is still sick,” she said. “We’re going back and forth to the doctor, and then after a while they start calling Child Protection Service on you because they figure you’re not taking care of your child.”

An excavator clears out earth covering a broken water line that residents of The Rock community blame on the detonation of hazardous materials at the Clean Harbor Colfax disposal facility. (Photo by Remi Tallo)

Sanders said it’s been a challenge to organize the community to oppose the Clean Harbors permit renewal “because they fear their voices won’t be heard.” But now that the community is at risk of food insecurity, she wonders what it will take to get the right kind of attention to their plight.

“Does it take for 20 people to die at one time, then maybe you’ll step in when you could have did something before that happens?” Sanders asked in a question rhetorically directed at LDEQ. “Y’all turning a blind eye.”

Sliska said the state’s enforcement against Clean Harbors has been a joke. “The more you fine them, the more they burn,” she said.

The Hoskins family is inviting Gov. John Bel Edwards to sit at the table with them and have a piece of king cake. With the recent loss of his governor mother, they hope the governor will consider all the illness and death they’ve experienced in the past 20 years.

“I would hate to live a little longer to know that this town died out because of Clean Harbors, that The Rock died out because of Clean Harbors,” Susan Hoskins said. “I would like to live to see my great grandchildren breathe clean air.”

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(ABC 6 News) – New Year, New You!

But, if you’re having trouble falling or staying asleep, maybe it’s not you. Maybe it’s your sleep that could use some upgrading!

Consumer Reports shares some simple adjustments you can make to help you sleep better all year long!

CR surveyed more than 2,000 adults in the U.S. and 9 out of 10 said they had experienced at least one sleep challenge in the previous 12 months.

“Getting a good night’s rest is really about also minimizing the disturbances,” says Consumer Reports’ Tanya Christian.

Set your thermostat to 65 degrees — the ideal temperature for sleeping.

“Your Core Body temp cools down slightly as your body prepares for sleep,” says Christian.

The right bedding is also key; Choose sheets in breathable fabrics like 100% cotton or linen like the L.L. Bean cotton sheet set which earned top scores for strength in CR’s tests.

The quality of the air in your bedroom can also affect your sleep; especially if you have allergies or asthma. In CR’s tests, the Honeywell Air Purifier did an impressive job of removing dust, pollen and smoke from the air.

And if the air in your bedroom is too dry, a humidifier can help add moisture back in and allow you to breathe easier. Position the humidifier near the bed, raised at least 2 feet above the floor. This allows more moisture to dissipate into the air.

Keep out light, which can signal your body to wake up, with blackout shades or an eye mask, like the Mzoo eye mask which has adjustable straps and was a CR favorite.

If you’re uncomfortable, consider a new pillow. The best pillows stabilize your neck and align it with the rest of your body.

For back and side sleepers, CR recommends the Coop Home Goods pillow, which can be tailored to your sleep position and comfort level by adding or removing fill.

Even the best pillows and perfect conditions won’t help if you’re not sleeping on the right mattress. So, if you’re consistently waking up sore, tired and achy and you’ve made other adjustments, it may be time to start looking for a new mattress.

For Related Stories: Consumer Confidence  6 On Your Side  Consumer Reports  Jessie Klinger

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We’re nearing the end of National Radon Action Month, and it’s a good time to remind Tri-State Area homeowners to have their homes tested for the radioactive gas and take steps to reduce the risk if elevated levels are detected.

Radon is colorless and odorless and is produced when uranium breaks down. It can enter your homes in many ways, including through cracks in a home’s foundation, windows and other joints.

Exposure to the gas can prove deadly — it’s the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall, right behind smoking. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to radon is the No. 1 cause of any cancer. It’s sobering to know that the risk of developing lung cancer among people who smoke and are exposed to high levels of radon is 10 times that of a person who doesn’t smoke and is exposed. All told, the CDC says 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year can be attributed to radon.

Dangers associated with the gas are all around us — the CDC reports that one in 15 homes across the country have high radon levels.

That’s especially true for residents of the Tri-State Area. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, counties in our region sit in the middle of a zone where predicted average indoor screening levels are greater than 4 picocuries per liter of air. And when readings reach that level, the EPA recommends you take action to fix your home.

Included in that zone are Jefferson, Harrison, Carroll, Belmont and Columbiana counties in Ohio; Hancock, Brooke and Ohio counties in West Virginia; and Beaver and Allegheny counties in Pennsylvania.

To help put that number into perspective, the CDC says that 4 picocuries per liter is the equivalent of receiving 200 chest X-rays or smoking eight cigarettes a day.

Homes should be tested for radon every two years or after any renovations are made, officials say. That includes the installation of windows, exterior doors, insulation, a roof or a furnace or air conditioner.

In addition to the self-test kits, homes can be evaluated by a licensed radon tester.

Indoor air quality is an important concern, especially in our homes, where we spend a large portion of our time.

Testing for radon, and following through with taking action to mitigate the risk, are important steps toward making our homes healthier places to live and raise our families.

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