Do insulating paints actually insulate and save energy?
Paint additives that claim insulating qualities have been marketed since the late 1990s, but energy research organizations have not confirmed their insulating value.
EarthTalk Q&A
How does the microwave compare in energy use
Microwaves are a tad more energy-efficient than gas burners, but about 25 percent less efficient than electric burners. They can save as much as 80 percent of the energy needed to cook or warm up food in the oven
Can The U.S. Tap Its Vast Shale Oil Reserves?
The U.S has the world’s largest supply of shale oil, but has only periodically considered tapping it when oil prices have been high.
Are Sunspots & Solar Wind Really Behind Climate Change?
Don’t some scientists point to sunspots and solar wind as having more impact on climate change than human industrial activity?
I know of solar power systems that people can put on their roofs to generate
Collective bargaining is a good strategy when looking to get the best price on a given product or service. Solar power is no exception, and dozens of neighborhood-wide installations in the U.S. and Canada have created a new model whereby going solar can actually start to pencil out for individual homeowners.
Has the recent violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo threatened
The short answer is yes, dramatically. Not to be confused with Western Lowland Gorillas, which are thriving in significant numbers in neighboring Congo (a recent census counted 125,000)
How can I recycle my old mattress if the place I buy a new one from doesn’t take it?
A typical mattress is a 23 cubic foot assembly of steel, wood, cotton and polyurethane foam. Given this wide range of materials, mattresses have typically been difficult to recycle—and still most municipal recycling facilities won’t offer to do it for you. But along with increasing public concerns about the environment—and a greater desire to recycle everything we can
Mattress Recycling 101
Most recycling agencies don’t take mattresses, but a little research will often yield some business or non-profit happy to recycle that old mattress for you.
With plug-in hybrid and electric cars due to hit the roads sometime soon
Gasoline-electric hybrids, like the Toyota Prius, are all the rage due to their fuel efficiency, and consumers have been clamoring for carmakers to up the ante and give these vehicles a plug. This way the batteries can be charged at home and not just by the gas engine and other on-board features, thus greatly reducing
Do zoos have serious programs to save endangered species
According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs have helped bring several endangered species back from the brink, including black-footed ferrets, California condors and red wolves, like the one pictured here.