The Bard CEP Eco Reader

Lead Astray in Upstate New York

  Under the crown molding and charming window sills of your historic upstate New York home may sit a dark secret: lead paint. The antique aesthetics of older homes lend to their charm, but they also lend to the ever present problem that is lead poisoning. Upstate New York, in particular, …

Temperatures are Rising in New York, and Policy is Playing Catchup

  Summers in New York City are unbeatable. They’re also unbearably hot, and, due to climate change, they’re getting hotter every year. An 80ºF day is characterized by the smell of hot garbage in the morning, sweltering heat during the day, and relentlessly muggy nights. In a city full of …

Solar for All, and All for Solar!

Have you been unable to participate in sustainable and clean energy trends because the costs are so high? Are you a renter and unable to convince your landlord to install solar on your apartment building? Do you find that you’re living paycheck to paycheck, barely able to afford your energy …

Sustainability at the Local Level: A Conversation With Jason West

This spring I had the pleasure of speaking with Jason West, the Director of Sustainability for the City of Albany, New York, about his fascinating career trajectory and his thoughts on sustainability, particularly at the local level.  Biography Jason served as the Mayor of New Paltz, New York for two …

A Conversation with Bianca Pryor–Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility

Bianca Pryor was born a leader. Raised in Richmond, VA, as the eldest sibling of three, being a protective big sister was her first leadership role. Before jumping into her career, Pryor attended Virginia Union University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Spanish. She then completed …

Noise Pollution: The Literal Opposite of a Silent Killer

The rumble of an airplane overhead. The whistle of a passing train. Garbage trucks backing up. Construction machinery and jackhammering. All of these sounds fall into the background of your attention when you’re used to them, but how might this noise be affecting you over time?   Ecological Impacts of …

Leadership in Food Systems Development: Fostering More Just and Resilient Food Systems

Feeding our communities is a highly complex task involving a wide array of stakeholders—including farmers, consumers, grocery stores, CSAs, farmers markets, food pantries, and more. The Covid-19 Pandemic has revealed major vulnerabilities in food systems across the globe, and climate change is threatening to further destabilize these systems. The United …

Mud Houses: Affordable Housing for the Rich? – By CJ Kelley

In Marfa, Texas, prior to 2017, a house made of adobe bricks was appraised in the same way as any other house made of any other material. Now, following an update by the county tax assessors, inhabitants of adobe structures pay 57% more in taxes than other homeowners.   Let’s …

The Invasion Persists

The Beginning In 1492, European settlers stumbled upon the Americas in search of land, wealth, and territories to colonize. However, the land they “discovered” was already occupied by millions of indigenous people and thousands of unique tribes with beautiful, distinct languages and cultures. And with the arrival of these European …

A Drop in the Bathtub

Imagine that you’re having one of the hardest days that you’ve had in a while. At the end of that day, you head home and do some self care to help ease and soothe yourself. Your routine is part recovery, part preparation for the next day.  You take a bath. …