Kenaf Paper: Better Than Wood Pulp Standard?
Is kenaf really a greener and more economical alternative to regular wood-pulp based paper? And if so why isn’t it used more widely?
EarthTalk Q&A
Where does ethanol as an automobile fuel fit into the alternative energy mix?
Some eight million “flex-fuel” vehicles, which can run on either regular gasoline or so-called E85, a mix of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, are now on U.S. roads. Unfortunately, most of them are nowhere near an ethanol filling station, so they are just running on conventional gasoline.
Is it true that the BP oil leak is much more of an environmental threat
No one knows for sure how the ongoing oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico will affect the deep sea ecosystem, but scientists are not optimistic. Oil from what is now considered the nation’s second largest spill, 1989’s Exxon Valdez mishap, slicked 11,000 square miles of ocean surface and 1,300 miles of pristine Alaskan coastline while killing hundreds
I’ve been hearing about the popularity of milk sold in bags
Plastic milk bags are popular in many parts of Europe, Latin America and India and are catching on in Canada, South Africa and China. They use 75 percent less plastic than similar capacity plastic jugs, are made of easily recycled high-density polyethylene
The U.S. got socked with several major storms this past winter
Weather patterns and trends are notoriously unpredictable, varying due to a great many different inputs. While it’s true that snowier, stormier winters could be the result of global warming, many meteorologists believe that El Nino—a climate pattern involving
Can airplanes be run on cleaner fuels or be electric powered?
Given air travel’s huge contribution to our collective carbon footprint—flying accounts for about three percent of carbon emissions worldwide by some estimates—and the fact that basic passenger and cargo jet designs haven’t changed significantly in decades, the world is certainly ready for greener forms of flying.
What’s being done to clean up hog farming operations in places
Hog farming has always been a messy business, but surging demand for pork in recent years has exacerbated an already foul problem: dealing with the continual production of the bodily waste of thousands of animals. Pigs are kept in tight quarters and their waste is channeled into huge open-air lagoon pits and sprayfields.
At a meeting of a local art association, an artist who paints in acrylics
There are environmental and health issues with both oil and acrylic art paints. Some greener and healthier options are now available, though, such as water-mixable oil paints that clean up with water instead of chemicals, and GLOB paints, made from food-grade botanical extracts
I heard that Walmart is having a bigger positive impact on the environment
Walmart has indeed been working to clean up its image in recent years, and many environmentalists are pleased with the company’s commitment to reduce its massive carbon footprint. Many, however, view the company’s initiatives with skepticism, especially considering its overall impact on communities.
How Can My Pet Avoid Fleas Without A Poison Collar?
Despite improvements, pesticides in flea collars are still harmful to pets and humans. Are there ways to minimize fleas without resorting to chemicals?