By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The sugar hangover following Halloween, turning the clock back from daylight saving time to central standard time, and changing the calendars from October to November used to signal the end of warm, sunny autumn days and the onset of winter. The bikes, lawn furniture, and the golf clubs were all put away and stored until next spring.

The first week of November used to mean it was time to hunker down for another long winter. And winters used to be long, five months or more, when I was growing up west of the Twin Cities. We used to get the snowmobiles ready right after Halloween, get our first good snow by mid-November and frolic in the snow until the last large drifts disappeared in April.

My hometown was located right on Lake Addie, a small, shallow lake that was good for bullhead fishing during the summer months and ice skating in the winter. There was always plenty of ice to try the skates out around turkey day. And the ice remained thick and safe until April.

Fast forward three dozen years, and things have really changed. Some folks say itís global warming. Others claim itís just a swing in our ever-changing climate. "Weíve had ice ages before, and then things warmed up. Weíre just in a warming cycle," say those who refuse to believe the change in our climate is man made.

Unless you own a ski hill, or are in the business of selling snowmobiles, snow blowers, or snow shovels, the climate change in southeast Minnesota hasnít really been all that objectionable for most of us. Instead of winter settling upon us in November, it now seems to arrive about six weeks later. And while this climate change (or temporary warming trend) has brought major weather swings i.e. droughts, floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes that have ravaged much of the U.S., this corner of the state had been spared, up until the August flash floods hit. So what will this winter bring?

It appears as if the Upper Midwest will experience another warm winter. According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, a strengthening El Nino event continues to develop in the equatorial Pacific. This change in the oceanís temperatures affects the jet stream, and the experts are predicting a much-warmer-than-normal winter.

I donít know if the wise sages making the predictions for the Old Farmerís Almanac check with the NOAA experts or not, but the Farmerís Almanac is also predicting a warmer-than-normal winter for the Upper Midwest. Both sources predict normal precipitation.

While I really enjoy being able to golf in late November, December, and even into the beginning of January in Minnesota, it does trouble me somewhat, as far as what the future weather patterns may bring. Brown Christmases and golfing on snow-free courses nine months out of the year in Minnesota seems a little far-fetched.

Maybe if we all try to become a little greener, we can keep this warming trend from getting any worse. The following are some easy ways for all of us to be a little kinder and more gentle on Mother Earth, and some of these tips can also save us a little money.

ïAdjust the thermostat. Set the thermostat a few degrees cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer to save energy and money.

ïUse water-saving showerheads. Install low-flow, water-saving showerheads and reduce the amount of time spent in the shower to save water, as well as the energy used to heat it.

ïBuy energy-saving light bulbs. Use energy-saving light bulbs like compact fluorescent lights and turn off all lights when exiting a room to save energy and money on electric bills.

ïUse cold water to wash clothes. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, about 90 percent of energy used to wash clothes is used to heat the water.

ïCreate a compost pile in the yard. Not only will this reduce landfill waste, but the compost can also be used to nourish plants.

ïTake advantage of new products with environmentally smart packaging. New technologies mean new ways to be green.

ïBuy a reusable water bottle. Filter tap water at home and fill a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce plastic bottle waste.

ïBYOB. Bring your own bag to the grocery store or reuse and recycle your disposable shopping bags to reduce paper and plastic waste.

ïCarpool, ride your bike or walk to work. Find another mode of transportation; you can save money on gas, parking and possibly fit your workout in at the same time.

ï Invest in a power strip. Smart power strips can detect energy use and automatically shut off when they are no longer needed.

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