Institute for Environmental Solutions

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Institute for Environmental Solutions

IES is a non profit organization committed to finding scientific solutions for environmental problems.

We used research backed techniques to implement tangible change and educational workshops to increase Denver communities resilience and sustainability.

03/21/2026

IES is currently on indefinite hiatus. We will post again if that changes.

08/27/2021

Laundry is one of the largest contributors of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Clothing, bedding, and other fabrics shed microplastics in fiber form when in the wash. Additionally, nearly all detergent pods are wrapped in a petroleum-based plastic film, known as PVAs. While this lining dissolves in water, it is not filtered out at wastewater treatment facilities. Since these plastic particles are not removed in the treatment process, they persist in our waterways and soil, causing harm to our ecosystem and local wildlife. Below are a few tips to reduce microplastic pollution when doing your laundry:

● Use eco-friendly detergent tablets. Blueland makes tablets that come in compostable packaging and don’t contain PVAs.
● Wash clothes in cold water. Cold water reduces the amount of microfibers that are shed from clothing. It also reduces energy use!
● Install a filter in your washing machine that collects microplastic particles. There are also more affordable products such as wash bags that are designed to capture microplastics.
● Replace single-use dryer sheets with wool dryer balls. Dryer balls are reusable and don’t contain harmful chemicals or microplastics.

08/16/2021

Unplugging your electronics can help to mitigate climate change. Most of the energy that powers your home comes from fossil fuels, which generates greenhouse gases (GHGs) that lead to global warming. Global warming will cause higher temperatures, intense drought, severe storm events, sea level rise, and increased wildfires. You can help by reducing your energy use:

● Watch out for “vampires”. Vampires are electricity consuming devices that use power even when not in use such as computers, stereos, kitchen appliances. Unplug these devices when not in use.
● Use power strips. Using a power strip will reduce the need to shut off every device in your home by letting you unplug multiple devices at once
● Buy energy efficient appliances. When shopping for appliances, purchase appliances with the Energy Star label (see image below). Energy Star has prevented $450 billion in energy costs and 4 million metric tons of GHG emissions.

08/06/2021

Urban areas tend to be warmer than rural areas. This effect is called the urban heat island effect. Cities contain buildings, sidewalks, and roads that absorb the sun’s heat during the day and release the heat at night. Cities that experience this effect have a higher demand for air conditioning, causing an increase in energy consumption and a rise in greenhouse gas emissions, specifically carbon dioxide (CO2). Elevated greenhouse gas emissions from human activities have caused changes to Earth’s climate, affecting ecosystems, sea level, and weather patterns, to name a few. You can help decrease the urban heat island effect and reduce climate disruption!

- Plant trees and other vegetation. Vegetation lowers temperatures by providing shade and through evaporation. In large cities, plant different types of vegetation on the roof of buildings to create a green or eco-roof to reduce heat.

- Install a cool roof. Instead of using roofing material that absorbs heat, use materials that reflect the sun to reduce rooftop temperatures, making the building more comfortable for occupants. Avoid materials that are dark in color since they absorb more heat than lighter colors.

- Use cool pavement instead of traditional pavement. Like cool roofs, cool pavement reflects the sun’s energy to keep the pavement and surrounding air cool.

To learn more about urban forestry and tree planting in Colorado, please visit https://www.i4es.org/the-tree-project/ and https://csfs.colostate.edu/forest-management/community-urban-forestry/

For more information about the urban heat island effect, please visit https://www.epa.gov/heatislands

08/03/2021

The IES Tree Project was honored to be invited to Girls Inc. of Metro Denver on July 19 and July 22 to teach nine young girls the importance of science, the environment, and native trees! Tree Project team members brought entertaining educational activities including a Colorado native tree bingo game, a relay race teaching the proper steps to plant a tree, and a planting activity where the girls got to plant their own colorful flower into a pot to take home. The students wrote a letter to Leadership Students at Fort Logan Northgate School, a partner of IES in Sheridan, CO, describing why the environment is important to them. The Girls Inc. students learned about the many benefits of trees and plants, and learned some new terms including “pollinator”, “native”, and “erosion”. IES discussed why the best planting practices focus on native plants and trees. IES enjoys growing the next generation of environmental stewards and loved the opportunity to boost these young girls’ interest in the environment and in science!

07/30/2021

Protecting bees and other pollinators is crucial to our food supply as most plants we depend on for food require pollination to reproduce, like melons and chocolate. Currently, many pollinators are endangered due to habitat loss, climate change, and the use of pesticides. Our homes, however, can provide habitat and protection for pollinators through our gardens. Use the following tips this summer from the National Environmental Education Foundation - NEEF to turn your home garden into a habitat that is friendly for local pollinators:

- Choose plants that are native to your region. Eco-regional planting guides can be found on websites like https://www.pollinator.org/guides.

- Eliminate or reduce the use of pesticides. If you must use a pesticide for your garden, shop for the least toxic product possible. Phone apps like Think Dirty help you find sustainable products by identifying non-toxic brands.

- Create a bee habitat. Leave a dead tree or tree limb in your garden. You can also create bee condos!

- Provide nectar for hummingbirds. You can make nectar by combining four parts water to one part pure sugar. Add the finished substance to a proper feeder.

- Educate yourself more about pollinators and how to protect them. There are many educational resources available online that you can use to learn more about pollinators such as https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection.

07/23/2021

Summer is here which means it's time to bring out the sunscreen! Unfortunately, many traditional sunscreens contain oxybenzone, a harmful chemical that can be dangerous to humans and the environment. This chemical can increase the rate of bleaching of coral reefs which makes coral more vulnerable to disease. Coral reefs are important for supporting biodiversity, livelihoods (e.g. fisherman), and economies that heavily rely on tourism. Oxybenzone can cause hormone disruption and birth defects in humans. It can also react with chlorine in pools to form chloroform, a compound that is more toxic than oxybenzone by itself.

Luckily, there are ways you can reduce your exposure to oxybenzone. Purchasing alternative products such as mineral sunscreens that contain non-nano zinc oxide and titanium dioxide work just as well and do not harm our oceans. Try and look for MADE SAFE certified sunscreens next time you are shopping! Do not be fooled by “reef safe” labels as the product may still contain ingredients harmful to coral reefs due to a lack of regulation.

07/19/2021

Looking for reasons to get into composting? Summer is the perfect time to start a compost bin! To effectively compost, you need to have four elements: food, water, air, and heat. Begin by collecting food scraps that you can use to create a small compost pile. These can be eggshells, dead flowers, as well as any fruit or vegetables. Anything that can attract insects or animals such as dairy, grease, and meat should be discarded into your regular trash. Once you’ve collected these initial food scraps in a small bin, move the waste into a much larger bin, either in your kitchen or outside if you have the space. “The greens and browns'' will become the motto you live by when composting as you will want to layer your compost by what’s carbon-rich (the “browns” such as egg cartons, newspapers, dried leaves, etc.) and by what’s wet and nitrogen-based (the “greens” such as banana peels, coffee grounds, fresh leaves, etc.) in equal parts. Layering your scraps like this will help to accelerate the rate of decomposition. Every week, you will want to rotate and stir the pile until it becomes the earthy, nutrient-rich compost you think of when gardening and planting in the spring. Adding worms to your compost pile can also accelerate the decomposition process, which is ideal if you live in an apartment. However, if you don’t have the time or space for a compost bin, there are many local programs in and around Denver that will compost your waste for a small fee (e.g. Compost Colorado)! Simply drop off your scraps into the compost bin the company gives you and leave it outside your door along with your regular trash and recyclables for weekly pick ups! Composting can divert 30% of trash in the U.S. from going into landfills and can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a result.

07/16/2021

The 2020 IES Sheridan Trail Enhancement and Restoration Project (TERP) marked the 7th year of collaboration with the City of Sheridan, Colorado and the Fort Logan Northgate 3-8 School (FLN) Leadership Class to implement environmental improvement and education projects at the Sheridan Quincy Trail (SQT) and adjacent community space. The Sheridan TERP was able to reach its project goals thanks to IES’s dedicated community volunteers and partners. Xcel Energy also contributed significantly to the success of the Sheridan TERP by planting 12 native pollinating plants in the community space and providing critical maintenance at the site in preparation for the planting days with FLN. The FLN students successfully completed two planting days on October 29 and 30, planting 70 plants total at the western entrance and halfway down the trail. Check out our full project video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q0oLvnh9fM, detailing the success of the project and showcasing the voices of those who made it possible!

For more information about the SQT or on how you can become involved with IES, visit www.i4es.org or contact us at [email protected].

07/09/2021

Last week, Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a drought emergency for over 20 counties on Colorado’s western slope, including Gunnison, Garfield, Eagle, and Grand Counties. Residents from all over the state can help by conserving water. Here are a few tips:

- Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket: Toilets use between 1.6 and 8 gallons of water per flush, depending on when the toilet was manufactured. Toilets manufactured before 1993 use more water, closer to 8 gallons per flush, than toilets manufactured after 1993.
- Keep your showers brief: Showerheads made in the U.S. use, on average, 2.5 gallons of water per minute.
- Turn off your faucets when washing dishes, shaving, and brushing your teeth.
- Wash your clothes only when you have a full load of laundry.
- Water your lawns in the mornings, evenings, or nights: Watering your lawn in the afternoon leads to more evaporation, causing you to use more water and spend more money.

Want to learn more about conserving water? The internet has many sources of information, including water conservation tips from Colorado State University that can be found here: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/family-home-consumer/water-conservation-in-and-around-the-home-9-952/

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

07/06/2021

As the 2021-2022 school year approaches, the IES Tree Project is preparing to implement the Sheridan Play, Adapt, Grow, Engage (PAGE) Project. The Sheridan PAGE will mark IES’s eighth year of environmental improvement projects in Sheridan, CO. This project will continue the environmental restoration and enhancement of the Sheridan Quincy Trail. The goals of the 2021 PAGE include improving local ecological health, expanding pollinator habitat, increasing trail safety through erosion control and stormwater runoff mitigation, and providing a space where the community can engage with their environment. The Tree Project will achieve these goals by planting 90 native plants, removing invasive species, and installing a shade structure. The Tree Project will also be continuing its partnership with Fort Logan Northgate (FLN) Middle School by collaborating with its Leadership Class to conduct two workshops and two planting days. The workshops will include lessons on ecology and planting techniques that will inform the best environmental practices for planting days.

IES is currently looking for Tree Stewards to care for the Sheridan Quincy Trail. For more information about the Sheridan PAGE or on how you can become an IES Tree Steward, visit www.i4es.org or contact us at [email protected].

07/03/2021

Do you and your family have plans to grill this Fourth of July? The Oak Ridge National Lab at the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that Americans use enough fuel for their grills to power a small city during the Fourth of July weekend alone. This is the equivalent of burning 2,300 acres of forest, which emits approximately 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Although these emissions are minuscule compared to the 6,588,000,000 tons of carbon the United States emits annually, it still raises serious questions on how we can reduce our carbon footprint this holiday and anytime we grill this summer.

Start by investing in a natural gas grill. Natural gas grills are one of the most energy-efficient grills on the market and produce less air pollutants than a charcoal grill. Maximizing your grill space by adding as much food as possible onto the grill is another effective strategy to reduce your footprint. However, one of the most impactful ways to reduce your carbon footprint is by cutting back on your meat consumption. Substituting chicken or beef with a vegetarian option can help reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions by addressing the top driver of deforestation in the world’s tropical forests: soybean production for the meat industry.

Got any other green grilling tips? Drop them below!

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Denver, CO

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+17202954437

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https://www.coloradogives.org/index.php?section=organizations&action=newDonation&fwID=17051

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