Greener Gear
Greener Gear: A new set of sustainability guidelines from leading outdoor gear retailer REI will force upwards of 1,000 brands to go greener.
Roddy Scheer
Posts by Roddy Scheer:
Greener Gadget Makers: Fairphone Barely Beats Out Apple as Greenest
In its most recent Guide to Greener Electronics, Greenpeace ranks Fairphone as the greenest gadget makers, but Apple follows closely on its heals given CEO Tim Cook’s commitment to sustainability.
Reusable Water Bottles: Glass & Stainless Steel Take Over From Plastic
Reusable water bottles used to all be made out of plastic, but nowadays consumers are switching over to greener, healthier options made out of glass, stainless steel and even biodegradable materials.
Sustainably Harvested Guitar Tonewoods & Alternative Materials Take Center Stage
The fact that the so-called “tonewoods” that guitar makers have relied on for almost two centuries are now harder and harder to come by has left guitar makers scrambling to support replanting efforts in far flung locales and looking for sustainable alternatives that still imbue their instruments with pleasing tonal characteristics and eye-catching good looks…
Avoiding BPA Exposure: Not So Easy Anymore
A good old can of soup might not be as good for you as you would expect, given the toxic chemicals in the lining of the can itself. Experts say to fresh foods are always the safest way to go.
Risky Rainwear: Outdoor Gear Makers Scramble to Find PFC-Free Alternatives
Outdoor gear and clothing manufacturers are scrambling to find greener alternatives to PFCs to keep their jackets, boots and other gear from “wetting out.”
How Will Climate Change Affect Real Estate Property Values?
Sea level rise, more frequent & intense storms and wildfires means fewer and fewer of us live in areas safe from some of the ravages of climate change.
Televisions Bigger & Greener Than Ever
Dear EarthTalk: I am in the market for a new flat screen TV. Are some models greener than others? — Michael Kavanaugh, Rome, NY According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Americans’ 275 million TV sets burn through some 65 billion kilowatt hours of energy each year, representing four to five percent of U.S. household electricity […]
Conservation Genetics to the Rescue
Dear EarthTalk: How are scientists using DNA to conserve wildlife? — Jake Summerlin, Newark, NJ Traditionally, conservation biologists have relied on field observation and sample and statistical analysis to help them understand the dynamics behind species loss, but today genetics is taking on an increasingly important role in helping quantify the biodiversity around us and even […]
De-extinction Deja Vu: Is Bringing Back Extinct Species Possible Nowadays?
Advances in genetic sequencing and molecular biology transformed de-extinction from theory into something that we are all likely to see in our own lifetimes.