Why aren’t compact fluorescent light bulbs taking over more quickly
A global shift to compact fluorescent light bulbs, in lieu of incandescent bulbs, could close some 270 power plants worldwide.© Energy Federation
EarthTalk Q&A
I’m looking for a job and would like to find a position at a company
Some of the hottest sectors for new green jobs right now are: travel and hospitality, planning and land use, alternative health and medicine, renewable energy, environmental law, information technology, environmental education, design and construction, corporate responsibility,
I’m in the market for new furniture
Upgrading to greener furniture is one of the healthiest things you can do for your family and the planet. Pictured here is an all-natural Alfred Loveseat from Furnature
Many foods like tuna and pet foods that formerly were sold
Food pouches, which are made from a combination of food-grade aluminum foil, plastic and adhesives, do appear to have some front-end environmental advantages over the cans they are increasingly replacing on supermarket shelves. However, they are not as easily recycled.
The impacts of all the paving that is done for new roads and parking lots must be considerable
In the U.S. alone, pavement covers some 60,000 square miles, or about two percent of the nation
s total surface area. One out of every 10 acres of arable land is paved over.
Where does all the medical waste from labs, doctor’s offices and hospitals go?
Medical wastes have traditionally been disposed of by the not-so-green-friendly method of incineration. Today a wide assortment of other processes, including steam sterilization, chemical disinfection and irradiation, are in use.
I have been alarmed at recent news about dangerous substances in kids
Recent concerns surrounding toxic chemicals in children’s toys have focused on “phthalates” (pronounced THA-lates), a group of chemical compounds typically added to plastics to increase their softness and flexibility
We’ve all seen the current generation of hybrid cars
No longer just the domain of the Japanese, greener cars are forthcoming from just about all of the major automakers. Toyota will improve on its hot-selling Prius by adding a plug so owners can juice up the batteries overnight and make it at least six miles before switching over to the car’s gasoline-powered internal combustion engine.
What are the best sources out there for environmentally friendly consumer products?
Although green-friendly goods are starting to show up just about everywhere, finding all the right products is still not as simple as a one-stop trip to the mall or major grocer. However, there are several reputable websites, mail order catalogs and storefront retailers that cater to the eco-motivated consumer.
In lieu of federal action in the U.S. to combat global warming
Though the Bush administration has been slow to even admit that global warming is a serious issue, and has rejected the terms of the Kyoto Protocol (an international agreement calling on developed nations