"Given the demands of today’s global economy, it is more important than ever before that our students leave our schools with a solid education in both math and science." "Today, more than ever before, science holds the key to our survival as a planet and our security and prosperity as a nation." The two quotes above came from President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, but which came from which? The real answer is that it doesn't matter. Cast politics aside, because everyone can agree that the jobs of the future will take a direct route through the science …

Do you remember the first CD you owned? Though you didn't ask, I'll tell you that mine was Throwing Copper by Live. Something by Barenaked Ladies was soon to follow, then Weezer, then—well, the list surges into the hundreds, so I'll stop there. I haven't bought CDs in a few years now, instead pulling bits and bytes over the ol' Comcast coaxial. But I still have those CDs—vestiges of a 1990s epidemic that saw grungy tunes, Columbia Record Clubs issuing the discs mercilessly, and Patch parent company AOL playing fast and loose with free trial software (I signed up every time, promise!). With my…

Moorestown viewers of ABC's Shark Tank will get a blast from the past when former Vice Principal Gary Gagnon makes an appearance this Friday night, pitching his one hundred percent recyclable shoes. Gagnon served in his leadership role with MHS from 1997 to 2001 before moving into the private sector in a variety of product development roles. Now in North Carolina, he's taking a passion project into the spotlight. Developed under the brand name REMYXX­, the shoes are comprised of completely recyclable materials. While that doesn't mean you can toss them into the blue bucket with your curb …

Are you familiar with TED? It's the forum where leading thinkers hop on stage and offer their ideas and opinions, ranging from world-changing inventions to fascinating takes on human psychology to the more lighthearted though still inspiring forays into art and entertainment. The videos range from several minutes to twenty, a new one is released daily, and they very rarely fall short of riveting.The other night I endured a nearly half-hour long presentation by Amory Lovins, a long-time fixture in the energy world best known for the Hypercar, a super-light, super-strong concept vehicle that …

Most transactions come with a wee bit of waste, or as economists would call it, "market inefficiencies." In a retail setting, this includes spillage (theft), excess inventory that gets dumped—and even the unproductive time a clerk spends checking Facebook. It's all built in to the price of the good, but it means you as the customer are paying a little bit extra to compensate for those inefficiencies. But a women's clothing swap soon to be held in Riverton is challenging that notion. Main Street's Yogawood hosts the event this Sunday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Bring at least five pieces of …

Everyone knows that for a movement to be taken seriously, it needs a specially colored ribbon with which it's associated. And so, those that advocate for the greening of schools in America can rest easy. (Do I really have to tell you which color?) The US Department of Education has announced its inaugural crop of educational institutions that take environmentalism to the next level, while at the same time instilling it in the next generation. Seventy-eight schools nationwide made the cut, demonstrating mastery of energy conservation, and an overall strength in integrating green throughout the…

No matter where you sit on the political spectrum, you're likely rooting for a speedy economic recovery. Signs are surfacing we're trending in the right direction—not fast enough for many, but progressing nonetheless.Our economy, all $15 trillion worth of it, will rebuild the same way giant cruise ships make left turns—gradually but deliberately. Will we remake it in the same image of its 2006 self? That mid-decade boom was about pure control at the very top—mega-scale banks, automakers, and energy giants. With each came bureaucracies and bloated heirarchies that left them vulnerable to the …

New to town? Or possibly been here for decades and suddenly getting that sense of civic pride and environmental duty? Here's your cheat sheet for light, local living.Week One Congrats! Your new—er, existing?—home is beautiful! But boy do we have work ahead. Changing billing addresses—utilities, mobile phone service, insurance, cable internet and TV—is at the top of the list. Skip the trip to the post office and change your mailing address online. Once you have proof of residency, get to the Cinnaminson Library to sign up for a library card (ebooks have arrived!) While you're there, grab your …

It struck me recently that while I strive to bring you practical reminders about living more environmentally minded—driving more efficiently, insulating your home and reducing the miles your food travels—the greatest impact I can hope to make is to demystify the sometimes clouded realities about global warming. That's because once you grasp the gravity and immediacy of the issue, you can't not feel compelled to become an active part of the solution. For the sake of future generations, take the time to comprehend the fundamentals, and if something seems unclear, go explore it with someone who …

Usually going 15 for your last 15 means you're on a torrid, celebration-worthy streak. But when it represents the number of consecutive weeks we've seen gas prices rise, the only celebrating being done is by station owners and petro dictators across the globe. According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, regular unleaded gasoline prices in New Jersey reached $3.63 per gallon last Friday. The national average hit $3.83, a sizable jump from last year at the same time when prices were at $3.55. As for the cause of the steady uptick, industry analysts point to heightened unrest in the oil-rich Middle East, and…

Does this weather make you want to roll up your sleeves and tackle some do-it-yourself projects? Each of the below are money-saving, Earth-protecting, community reinforcing, and just maybe a bit fun to boot. Home gardening Maybe the best thing you can do for the planet is reconnect with your food, and what better way than to grow it yourself. As proven by the Cinnaminson Community Gardeners, this is easy to do—but even easier with teamwork. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and lettuce of many varieties are on the menu, if you're willing to get your hands dirty. Even if space is limited, rely on …

The weather warms toward the end of this week, and with it comes a packed calendar for the environmentally minded. To keep you in the loop and get your green juices flowing, take note of any events that interest you and get involved! March 7 (Wed.) - Ready to take on Big Oil and voice your opinion on the Keystone XL pipeline? Head to the Canadian Consulate at 1650 Market St. in Philadelphia, 7-8 p.m. Read more at the Facebook event page. March 8 (Thur.) - Head to Moorestown's William Allen Middle School at 7:30 p.m. to learn about Moorestown's introduction into the Sustainable Jersey …

We do not know the value of water until we go dry. - Irish ProverbActually, we know the value of water right now, and it's about to be 20 percent higher than it used to be if New Jersey American Water's rate increases go through. As Patch covered in January, the public utility filed a request through the state to increase revenues from rates $95.5 million. The bump will increase the average home's monthly bill by $7.63. Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio has taken a stand on this issue. His aim is not just in protesting the price hike, but in holding New Jersey American …

A frequently cited tidbit about our town is its proximity to Philadelphia. It's sometimes expressed with the cutesy "just a stone's throw away" which I suppose is true for those that can throw a stone 12 miles, but it sure does feel close. High points in the area—like Route 130 South at Branch Pike—offer skyline views that, on a clear day, are worth marveling over. This geographical closeness to a major city is akin to the effects of a planet's gravity. We swarm to it: cheering for the Phillies, flocking cityward for the best in dining and entertainment, and as far as defining the "…

Just a few weeks back, a potential energy project briefly took center stage—the Keystone XL pipeline that would bring tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada to refineries in Texas. On January 25, President Obama denied a permit required to begin construction. Now, with but a day's notice, the Senate GOP has filed an amendment to include the pipeline's authorization in a transportation bill that would bring it to fruition, without the prudent ecological assessments to determine just how much environmental degradation we have in store. For a brief primer on tar sands and the battle up to now, we'll…

Consumer freedom is one of those paradoxical concepts, as the greater it is exercised by one, the faster it circles back on itself and starts to impinge on the freedoms of another. Such is the case with single-use plastic and paper bags and the perpetual debate over banning them at retail stores. The subject has reared its head again, as a piece of legislation is being introduced to the New Jersey Legislature that will force most retailers to charge a $0.10 fee per bag, and by 2015, outlaw them entirely. The bill's text touches on the environmental scourge the bags represent, noting the …

Is your commute on par with others in New Jersey? It is if you're spending 29.2 minutes getting to work. That kind of commitment to daily travel is a serious drain—on your work productivity, on your personal finances, and even your health. And that's just you. That abundance of inefficient stop-and-go miles plays a role in foreign policy and national security (27.5 percent of all person-miles traveled in the US is commuting or otherwise job-related). And given congestion in and near cities, that density of exhaust-spewing vehicles is a serious environmental health concern as well. It's easy …

If you get the opportunity in the next week, a visit to the Philadelphia Home Show may be just the visual inspiration you need to make some green upgrades in and around your home. The Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia (12th & Arch streets) plays host to the nine-day exhibition. Set aside a few hours, as with more than 200 exhibitors, you'll have your work cut out for you to check them all out. To make that effort a little simpler, here's a breakdown of who to visit: SOLAR & RENEWABLES Solar providers are in full effect. GeoPeak Energy (Somerset, NJ - Booth 811) had a …

This column gives me the chance to share info about environmental trends and ideas, and at the same time, to examine my own lifestyle with an eye toward improving it. So while last week we covered the past year's worth of greening education, we now turn to the new year. Here's some tangible, actionable commitments that will make me (and you) measurably better citizens of Earth: 1. In 2012, I will make greater use of solar power. Not photovoltaic power, but the sun's drying power. Electric clothes dryers use 6 percent of a home's total energy use. Shifting to a clothesline or drying rack saves…

There's a wide gap between what we aspire to do, and the actions we actually take. It's the purpose of a holiday like New Year's to serve as a bridge to shrink that gap.With that sentiment in mind, let's document our strategy for breaking bad habits and making 2012 a year to reconnect with our environment, and make our daily lives more Earth-compatible. To do so, we can remind ourselves of lessons learned in 2011 and begin to resolve ourselves to new habits worth forming in the new year.Optimize Energy UseIn our home life, energy use is most intensive in keeping our interior space comfortable…