EarthTalk Q&A

The Riverhouse in New York City’s Battery Park district is a LEED-certified, 320-unit building with geothermal heating and cooling, twice-filtered air, non-toxic paint and landscaped roof gardens.© Phillip Ritz, courtesy Flickr

So-called “ocean deserts” or “dead zones” are oxygen-starved (or “hypoxic”) areas of the ocean. They can occur naturally, or be caused by an excess of nitrogen from agricultural fertilizers, sewage effluent and/or emissions from factories, trucks and automobiles. The nitrogen acts as a nutrient that, in turn, triggers an explosion of algae or plankton, which in turn deplete the water’s oxygen.

The Internet is teeming with online stores, catalogs and environmental groups that sell green-friendly gifts for the holidays. Pictured here: a child’s snail pull-toy from Earthentree, made by artisans in India from sustainable wood that is dyed with natural vegetable dyes and finished with lead free non-toxic organic resin

Motor oil leaked from individual vehicles -— or outright dumped by homeowners and commercial garages -— constitutes a significant chunk of storm water runoff, the fallen precipitation that runs off of roads and parking lots and inevitably finds its way into local water bodies.

Todays electric bikes and scooters are big improvements over the finicky mopeds of the 70s and 80s. Consumers can start greening up their commutes on such vehicles for as little as a Bicycle commuting has long been a symbol of greener living, and it is great exercise, too.

Many of us may be too dependent on over-the-counter painkillers to treat the occasional headache, especially given the side effects of such drugs. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can increase the risk of heart and circulation problems

Whether or not it makes environmental sense to inflate car tires with nitrogen instead of air is a matter of much debate. Proponents of nitrogen say the element is a smart choice for the environment primarily because it leaks from tires at a slower rate than air

Tasty and healthy alternatives to cows milk include those made from soy, rice, almonds, oats — and even hemp.© cafemama, courtesy Flickr, There is a lot of debate about whether or not cow’s milk is good—or appropriate—for people at all.

Originally the brainchild of Lebanese-born entrepreneur/inventor Nicolas Hayek of Swatch watch fame, Smart Cars are designed to be small, fuel-efficient, environmentally responsible and easy to park—really the ultimate in-city vehicle.