Tag: landscaping

Study: Homebuyers Prefer Clearer Lakes

According to a new study, property next to a clear lake is worth more than property next to a murkier lake. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Christina Shockley has more:

Transcript

According to a new study, property next to a clear lake is worth
more than property next to a murkier lake. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Christina Shockley
reports:


Researchers from Bemidji State University looked at 37 lakes in upper
Minnesota. They collected sale prices on homes, and compared them to
pre-existing water clarity levels. Patrick Welle is a professor of
Economics and Environmental Studies at Bemidji State. He co-authored the
study.


“So we ran the model not only over the twelve hundred and five sales, but
we also ran it by the six different regions separately, and in each case water
quality is one of the most significant predictors of the sale price of the lakeshore
property.”


So, the clearer the lake water, the higher the property value. Researchers say
landscaping, clearing vegetation up to the shore, and fertilizing can decrease
water clarity. They say a manicured lawn can boost property value right away,
but in the long run, it could be a detriment.


For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Christina Shockley.

COLLEGES FAILING GREEN TEST? (Short Version)

A new report is giving mixed reviews to the environmental efforts on college campuses. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Jonathan Ahl has more:

Transcript

A new report is giving mixed reviews to the environmental efforts on college campuses. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Jonathan Ahl reports.

The report card from the National Wildlife Federation gives A’s to schools for their work on energy efficiency and water conservation. But the schools receive B’s and C’s for poor landscaping practices and transportation issues. Tom Lowe is a Dean at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He says campuses must be models for environmental improvements, especially those that can save money in the long run.


“For a corporation, the idea that you could make money by greater environmental stewardship is sort of counter to what they traditionally think. So we have to be the model for that to demonstrate that it is possible.”


The report also shows schools are doing a good job at recycling, but a poor job in making sure they buy recycled products. For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Jonathan Ahl.

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Living Next to Wild Neighbors

People moving out to wooded lots in the suburbs are finding
those lots are already inhabited. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s
Lester Graham reports… some homeowners are battling nature,
but others are finding ways to live in harmony with it:

Commentary – Forbidden Fruit?

Americans spend millions each year on corporate landscaping. But as Great
Lakes Radio Consortium commentator Tom Springer explains, what grows on
company property is usually forbidden fruit:

Saving Niagara’s Natural Beauty

A historian believes one of the world’s most visited natural sites is
being ruined by tourist development. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s
Lester Graham reports that instead of new hotels and casinos…one man is
pushing for an appreciation of the natural beauty of Niagara Falls:

The Stone Business Rocks

You might gather a few stones as you walk along the beach, or buy some
at the hardware store to use in landscaping. But if you want to get a
good idea of the wide variety of stones, you might make a visit to the
Stone Zone. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Wendy Nelson reports:

Meditation in a Labyrinth

Throughout history, people have looked to nature to help them achieveinner- peace. Whether it’s a walk in the woods, gazing at the stars, ordaydreaming out a window – natures often been the inspiration. And nowan ancient tradition is making a comeback. The Great Lakes RadioConsortium’s Wendy Nelson reports: