Earth Talk

Untitled Document Where can one find the best options for green-friendly outdoor clothing, as well as traditional items without the environmental guilt? Outdoor gear and clothing manufacturers are slowly but surely beginning to work materials crafted from recycled, reused, or otherwise sustainable sources into their products. Synthetics such as polyester and nylon have been the […]

Untitled Document What are some tips for making the festivities greener for those getting married this summer? You know environmental consciousness has really taken hold when couples start to worry about whether their weddings will be green enough — but more and more people who care deeply about the planet view getting married as a […]

Untitled Document How is wind power faring in the U.S. now? Is more of it coming online and accounting for a larger percentage of the grid? Clean and green wind energy is the new darling of alternative-energy developers, and the U.S. industry has been surging in the past three years, especially as developers take advantage […]

Untitled Document Measured by pollution, airlines are one dirty business. What efforts to “green” the air-travel industry are under way? Environmental battles over the siting and expansion of airports are as old as the air-travel industry itself, but only in recent years have the airlines themselves been under pressure to go green. And there’s no […]

Untitled Document Where does one find environmentally friendly  shoes for children? Children’s shoes are a quickly expanding market, and companies with a green perspective are now jumping into the race with mini-versions of everything from flip-flops to slippers to heeled dress shoes. Although green kids’ shoes from makers such as Simple, which offers organic-cotton EcoSneaks […]

Untitled Document How can one make intelligent choices about seafood to avoid consuming unhealthy pollutants and lessen the impact on the environment? Several decades ago a fish-centric diet was considered not only healthy but also environmentally friendly. But today those of us who eat a lot of fish may not be doing ourselves or the […]

Untitled Document There are so many energy drinks on the market, but they all seem very high in sugar, coloring, and preservatives. Are there any natural versions that offer a healthier kick-start?   Energy drinks constitute one of the fastest-growing sectors of the soft-drink market across the U.S. and around the world, with some 500 […]

Untitled Document Are there any good alternatives to leather? Leather is everywhere — from shoes and belts to purses, wallets, jackets, furniture, and car seats. Most probably assume that the leather that finds its way into our wardrobes and living spaces is a byproduct of the meat industry. But even though cows are certainly the […]

Untitled Document Who is addressing the incredible waste generated by the nation’s bottled-water industry? The plastic waste spawned by the recent astronomical growth in the bottled-water business is significant. Environmentalists especially decry it because the water from our taps is usually as good as if not better quality than what’s inside the bottle (and, indeed, […]

Untitled Document Gel hand sanitizers can help lower the risk of illness, especially during cold-and-flu season, but these products can pose a risk to children if ingested. Are there safe alternatives that work just as well? A 2005 study from Children’s Hospital in Boston compared illness rates across a study group of 292 families; half […]

Untitled Document Vegetarians and vegans argue that eating meat is bad for the environment. How true are these claims? There has never been a better time to go vegetarian. Mounting evidence suggests that meat-based diets are not only unhealthy but that just about every aspect of meat production — from grazing-related loss of cropland, to […]

Untitled Document What’s the environmental impact of personal computers — and are “greener” PCs available? Online gamers and other heavy computer users are definitely leaving an environmental mark. Depending on when it was made and how it was designed, a standard desktop PC can use anywhere from 60 to 300 watts when in use, and […]