Queen of the Sun, a remarkable relevant film about the importance of bees and the perils they face just finished it’s opening in the Seattle area and is opening in select markets around the country through May. Did you get a chance to see it?

Here is the trailer for the movie:

Honey bee populations continue to drop around the globe. New information has just come to light that the EPA has knowingly allowed a bee killing pesticide to come onto the market. A leaked document from the EPA shows that the agency has knowingly allowed a highly toxic pesticide for bees, to be sold and used nationwide by Bayer, the third-largest producer of pesticides in the world. They have no plans to stop it’s production and the product is available this spring. As a reaction to this report, Pesticide Action Network has issued a petition straight to the the head of the EPA herself. Please click to sign this important petition: http://action.panna.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5370.

Why are bees so vital?

All elements of an ecosystem are important to the functioning of that ecosystem. Remove one element and the system will need to make adjustments. The effect of that adjustment may often not be known until after it has happened. Now, with bees and honey bees, in particular we know that over one-third of our food supply relies upon them for pollination services and we know that pollination is essential for the reproduction of the plants the bees service.

The main reason that the honey bees is important for our world is as simple as this; if the honey bee does not pollinate the crops, the crops do not grow and produce the food that gets harvested and brought to the store where we buy it and bring it home to feed ourselves and our families. In other words there is a direct connection between the bees pollinating the crops and our ability to provide food for our families.

The honey bees do provide a second service; they make honey.

Why Are Honey Bees Disappearing?

There are many schools of thought on why honey bee populations are rapidly decreasing. Here are some of the reasons I believe it is happening:

Chemicals May Be Killing the Honeybees
Many believe that our increasing use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, which honeybees ingest during their daily pollination rounds, are largely to blame. Commercial beehives are also subjected to direct chemical fumigation at regular intervals to ward off destructive mites.

Genetically Modified Crops are suspected of generating pollen with compromised nutritional value.

Radiation May Push Honeybees Off Course
Bee populations may also be vulnerable to other factors, such as the recent increase in atmospheric electromagnetic radiation as a result of growing numbers of cell phones and wireless communication towers. The increased radiation given off by such devices may interfere with bees’ ability to navigate. A small study at Germany’s Landau University found that bees would not return to their hives when mobile phones were placed nearby. Further research is currently underway in the U.S. to determine the extent of such radiation-related phenomena on bees and other insect populations.

Global Warming May Be Partly to Blame for Honeybee Deaths
Biologists also wonder if global warming may be exaggerating the growth rates of pathogens such as the mites, viruses and fungi that are known to take their toll on bee colonies. The unusual hot-and-cold winter weather fluctuations in recent years, also blamed on global warming, may also be wreaking havoc on bee populations accustomed to more consistent seasonal weather patterns.

What can each of us do to save the honey bees?

1. Pledge not to use dangerous pesticides and chemicals in your yard and gardens.

2. Plant your garden with bee friendly plants.

3. Buy local honey.

4. Find space for a bee hive in your garden.

5. Sign petitions like the one above and put pressure on local and national environmental agencies to protect the honey bees. Our food supply is at risk.

6. Be Bee Friendly. When kept properly, bees are good neighbors, and only sting when provoked. Beekeepers wear protective clothing when they are handling bees. If a bee hovers inquiringly in front of you when unprotected, do not flap your hands. Stay calm and move slowly away, best into the shade of shed or a tree. The bee will soon lose interest. It is worth remembering that bees do not like the smell of alcohol on people, the “animal” smell of leather clothing, even watchstraps. Bees regard dark clothing as a threat – it could be a bear! Bees are sometimes confused by scented soaps, shampoos and perfumes, best avoided near the hive.

Seattle Area Real Estate

An energy audit helps the homeowner with home energy efficiency and comfort issues. It will help identify opportunities to lower utility costs through various measures, like air sealing, insulation, education on energy usage habits and other proven methods. A home energy assessment, also known as a home energy audit, is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. An assessment will show you problems that may, when corrected, save you significant amounts of money over time.

During the assessment, you can pinpoint where your house is losing energy. Energy assessments also determine the efficiency of your home’s heating and cooling systems. An assessment may also show you ways to conserve hot water and electricity. You can perform a simple energy assessment yourself, or have a professional energy auditor carry out a more thorough assessment. I recommend that you hire a professional to get the most in-depth assessment.

Here is a great video showing what an auditor will do:

Within a few days of the audit, the homeowner will receive a report discussing the results and suggestions for improvement. This includes a list of recommendations, including simple, low-cost actions you can take to start saving right away and perhaps larger home improvements that will do even more to improve comfort and reduce home energy costs.

Here is a wonderful resource to help one prepare for an audit and select a home auditor: Energy Savers

And if you feel really confident and want to do your own assessment, check out this great Do-It-Yourself resource

An added bonus for homeowners trying to sell their homes: What a great selling feature to be able to say that you have had an assessment, provide the written assessment and then show how you have made the home more energy efficient. Another way to set your home apart from all of the competition and your buyers will love it!

Seattle Area Real Estate