In marked contrast to U.S. policy, Canadian environment ministers have agreed on a draft plan to reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants north of the border by as much as 58 percent by 2010. The plan calls for the utilization of cleaner-burning coal and the widespread implementation of technological fixes to help implement the reduction in emissions.
After years of partisan bickering, the Senate last week passed a comprehensive energy bill, which provides incentives for boosting domestic production of oil and natural gas and extends billions of dollars in tax incentives for nuclear energy development and cleaner coal-fired power plants. Meanwhile, the legislation also promotes solar and wind power initiatives while calling for increased energy conservation.
While solar-powered calculators have been readily available and inexpensive for two decades, only recently has such technology been applied to other tools, accessories and small appliances.
Since we spend about 90 percent of our time indoors, shouldn’t we be more worried about indoor air pollution than billowing smokestacks & tailpipes outside?
Many restaurants now include nuts in many different dishes, especially salads and desserts. And with the recent low-carb craze, nuts have been recognized as nutritional protein powerhouses that are great for snacking. Many children today don’t just respond to nuts with a sniffly nose or scratchy throat; they are literally deathly allergic. In fact, nut allergies are among the most deadly; they cause 100 to 200 deaths every year, mostly in children and adolescents.
Unplugging is back, baby! A whole new generation of back-to-the-landers are getting away from it all and living off the grid.
One way credit card companies are working to attract customers is to offer affinity programs, in which cards are branded with the logo or name of an organization. The organization gains name recognition and donations while the credit card company or bank gains customers and member lists. "The program has no cons for us; we get a lump sum of a half a percentage point of all purchases made with the card," explains Fred Brandon of The Wilderness Society about his group’s affinity card program.
Tuolumne County, California is best known for housing Yosemite National Park. Yet the county itself is chock-full of hidden treasures…
Launched to provide an alternative to chemically treated clothing, the eco-fashion business has been slow to catch on, and was for years linked to potato sacks and oddly styled t-shirts. These days, fine natural fabrics made from organic cotton, wool and linen, tencel (made from wood pulp), hemp, bamboo, Ingeo (made from corn) and silk are used to create sharp, stylish outfits. After much experimentation with these materials over the past 15 years, even such household names as Patagonia, Nike and Timberland have embraced the concept.
Freshen up any space with the new collection Vermont Naturals from Way Out Wax. The delightful Clean Air Soy Candle ($9) burns for up to 50 hours and the Clean Air Spray (four ounces, $9.50) can be dispensed into the air or onto fabrics, furniture, clothing and even pets. Plant extracts and botanical oils neutralize smoke and unpleasant smells by absorbing them and accelerating the natural breakdown process.
