How can ordinary people convince corporations
Beyond the simple exercising of one’s own purchasing power, there are many actions consumers can take—and organizations and resources available to help—to pressure companies to green up their ways.
EarthTalk Q&A
Greener Cat Litter (For Feline Environmentalists)
Dear EarthTalk: What kinds of cat litters are kinder to the environment: traditional clay litters (so-called clumping litters) or other varieties? What about some of the new alternatives, such as those made out of wheat and corn? —Stef Gandolfi, Oakland, CA Traditional clay-based clumping cat litters are the most common and widely sold in supermarkets […]
Do Wind Turbines Kill Lots Of Birds?
I have heard that wind power turbines kill a lot of birds, including migrating flocks, and that some people oppose wind power for that reason. If this is true, to what degree do they harm birds and what is being done about it?
Which countries that signed onto the Kyoto Protocol
As of the end of 2006, 169 countries had signed onto the Kyoto Protocol, an agreement forged in Kyoto, Japan in 1997 calling on the world”s industrialized nations to reduce emissions of so-called “greenhouse gases” thought to be contributing to global warming.
Do buildings with various “green” features cost more to build
It is difficult to do an apples-to-apples cost comparison of a “green” structure against one that is not due to differences in design, materials and other factors, including the location.
Where can I find non-polluting alternatives to those foam
Those little white polystyrene-foam packaging peanuts are nearly ubiquitous in our pack-and-ship culture, but they are no good for the environment, let alone human health. The basic building block of polystyrene is the non-recyclable chemical compound styrene
My local recycler won’t take my old phonebooks. What should I do with them?
Many recyclers won’t accept telephone books because the fibers used to make the books” lightweight pages are too short to be reformulated into new paper. In fact, mixing old phonebooks in with other waste paper can even contaminate the batch, hindering the recyclability of the other paper fibers.
Is there any theme for Earth Day this year, and what can I do to participate?
The non-profit Earth Day Network, which organizes and coordinates annual Earth Day celebrations around the U.S. and beyond, is partnering this year with Step It Up 2007, a nationwide campaign organized to demand bold federal action on climate change.
Alternative energy sources like wind power, hydrogen and biofuels are getting
As any board or body surfer will tell you, the ocean’s tidal currents pack considerable wallop. So why wouldn’t it make sense to harness all that formidable power, which is not too unlike that of the rivers that drive hydropower dams or the wind that drives wind turbines, to make energy?
There has been so much attention paid to designing environmentally friendly cars
The U.S. has been regulating fuel economy and emissions in cars and trucks for decades but got a late start addressing similar issues with boats. In 1996, though, recognizing a growing problem of boat engine pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued