Ellen Rubin

Ellen Rubin writes with flair, passion, and dedication, delving deeply into issues of sustainability, ecology, ethics, and the environment. A lifelong learner, who uses her law and library science degrees to cover topics that she feels strongly about, her interests also include gardening, crafting, and health.

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Mangrove Forests: Environmental and Economic Benefits

Mangrove Forests: Environmental and Economic Benefits

The environmental and economic benefits of mangrove forests, from carbon capture and water filtration to reducing the financial impacts of climate change.
Mangroves at sunset. Threats to mangrove

An Overview of the Threats to Mangrove Forests

The various threats to mangrove forests can all be traced to humankind, from agriculture and coastal development to tourism and climate change. Let’s discuss.
A patch of rusted metal, showing through cracked and flaking paint - The Environmental Impact of Paint: Lead, VOC’s, Microplastics and More

The Impact of Paint on the Environment and Human Health

Paint serves a useful purpose, but many traditional formulations contain lead, harmful VOCs, and microplastics. Let’s look at the details and explore alternatives.
Heat pump external unit in the garden

The Heat Pump: Exploring the Environmental Advantages

The greatest advantages of heat pumps are that they save consumers money while also creating a safer, more comfortable home and protecting the environment.
A bowl of food waste scraps - Using & Repurposing Kitchen Waste: A Complete Guide

Using & Repurposing Kitchen Waste: A Complete Guide

Sustainability includes using our kitchen waste to either propagate new plants and/or sustain our gardens and our homes. Let’s dig in to the details!
house from above - Alternative Ways to Incorporate Solar into Your Dwelling

Alternative Ways to Incorporate Solar into Your Dwelling

Not everyone can add solar to their roofs. Don’t lose heart, there are still ways in which you can incorporate solar technologies into your home. Let’s discuss.
A quick walk around my neighborhood provided examples of degraded landscape fabric where weeds were growing on top and around the edges.

Landscape Fabric: Effectiveness and Environmental Impact

Regardless of how you choose to address weed growth, using landscape fabric is not your best option. Let’s discuss the reasons why, and look at alternatives.
Hempcrete Home

Hempcrete: Sustainable Building for Clean Living

Hempcrete has a vast potential for environmental sustainability, especially when compared to the problematic Plain Concrete. Ellen takes us for a closer look.
shallow focus of white llama

Sustainable Fabric: A Guide to Environmental Impacts

Sustainable Fabric: Not all fabrics are created equal, especially as regards the costs of production and disposal to the environment and to human health.
Side view of artificial turf

Artificial Turf: Impacts on Environment and Human Health

This deep dive into artificial turf looks at the history and chemical composition of this ubiquitous creation, as well as its health and environmental impacts.