Deep in the Heart of Smog While Texas Governor George W. Bush was away campaigning for his party's Presidential nomination last summer, his fellow Texans were choking on the dirtiest air in the country. During 1999, Texas led the nation in Clean Air Act violations, and Houston replaced Los Angeles as our “smoggiest city.” Like […]
In America's First Environmentally-Smart Hotel To what some may consider a rather stagnant hotel industry, the newly opened Sheraton Rittenhouse Square is a breath of fresh air…literally. Every 34 minutes, guests of this Philadelphia establishment are bathed in an atmosphere that's been completely filtered of such air pollutants as mold, pollen and bacteria. The hotel's […]
Deregulation Means a Clean Power Option for Many Americans The news that electricity deregulation will give consumers a choice for the first time in determining their power supplier is just starting to filter through the information network. For environmentalists looking to purchase “green power” generated by renewable resources, the initial information is confusing at best, […]
Saving Money With Energy-Efficient Fenestration Most of us think we're being energy-conscious when we remember to put up the storm windows in the fall. But just because there are two panes of glass between you and the outside world doesn't mean you're protected against significant energy loss. Window technology has made a lot of progress […]
Synthetic Perfumes, Colognes and Scents Are Turning Up Noses Have you ever wondered which personal fragrance or perfume will make you the most attractive? If the person you're trying to attract happens to be a member of the Sierra Club, then the answer is probably none. In California last year, the club's San Francisco and […]
Wall Street’s Showplace for Environmental Sustainability Wall Street is one of the world’s most evocative addresses, but one thing it does not bring to mind is environmental sustainability. That may soon change with a showroom of green technology right smack in the middle of New York City’s financial district, out to prove that good economic […]
Wild Ideas for the New Millennium The classic late 19th/early 20th century environmentalism articulated by John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt and others didn't stray far from protecting the land and the species that live upon it. But as the 20th century wanes, the field has become far more crowded with issues, and complicated by our technological […]
Sneak Attacks and Sleazy Riders Environmental battle lines were clearly drawn in the 1990s, and largely along party lines. George Bush declared himself the “environmental President,” but launched few new initiatives and did nothing to reform his own party. Did it cost him reelection votes? Very likely, yes. Despite the Clinton administration's failure to fight […]
Sometimes we're so bombarded with bad news that positive progress just can't make it through the information glut. So here's the Earth in balance, a planetary report card with both good and bad grades. First the Good News… The Ozone Hole. The hole isn't shrinking yet, but our use of aerosols and other chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) […]
In Memorium Some dedicated environmentalists returned to the Earth in the 1990s, after sowing a legacy of green activism. Majory Stoneman Douglas, the founder of Florida's environmental movement, passed away last year. Her seminal book, The Everglades, led to the designation of the wetlands as a national park in 1947, and she unfailingly defended the […]
