Earth Talk

Untitled Document Where can one find nonpolluting alternatives to foam “packaging peanuts” used for shipping fragile merchandise? 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 nonrecyclable chemical compound styrene. Long-term […]

Untitled Document Did ExxonMobil really pay scientists and economists to write articles trying to debunk global warming? A February 2007 report in the British newspaper The Guardian fell like a ton of bricks on efforts by ExxonMobil, the world’s largest and most profitable oil company, to repair its damaged environmental reputation. According to the report, the […]

Untitled Document Why are some groups pressing to ban rBGH, the hormone given to cows that makes them produce more milk? Cows naturally produce bovine somatotropin in their pituitary glands, and traces are secreted by the animals when they are milked. More popularly known as BGH, or bovine growth hormone, BST interacts with other hormones […]

Untitled Document There is so much waste in packaging — from water in self-serve bottles to all the foil and cardboard wrapping for new print cartridges. What is being done to make packaging more “green friendly,” including cutting out as much of it as possible? Thanks to forward-thinking action by the European Union, people around […]

Untitled Document Wind power turbines, some people say, pose a threat to birds, including migrating flocks. If this is true, what is being done about this? It is ironic that nonpolluting, renewable wind energy, long touted as a potential savior in the fight to stop global warming, is getting a bad rap for killing wildlife. […]

Untitled Document 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? Traditional clay-based clumping cat litters are the most common and widely sold in supermarkets and pet supply stores. […]

Untitled Document Warnings on bags of charcoal say carcinogens are released when the briquettes are burned. Is it safe to breathe in the smell of a charcoal grill? Barbecue grills can be problematic for two reasons. First, both charcoal and wood burn “dirty,” producing not only hydrocarbons but also tiny soot particles that pollute the air […]

Untitled Document Solar power has not historically been very cost-effective. What will bring costs down to make solar competitive with other energy sources? The relatively low price of oil and the high cost of developing new technology have prevented the widespread adoption of solar power. At a current cost of 25 to 50 cents per […]

Untitled Document Are there efforts to design and manufacture environmentally friendly boats to replace gas-guzzlers? The United States 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 […]

Untitled Document What are the environmental pros and cons of switching to plant-based “biofuels” to reduce our reliance on oil? Because ethanol and biodiesel are derived from agricultural crops, they are inherently renewable, and ethanol and biodiesel emit less particulate pollution than traditional petroleum-based gasoline and diesel fuels. They also do not contribute to global […]

Untitled Document Dairy products such as yogurt always seem to come in packages that aren’t easily recycled. Aren’t there more eco-friendly containers these companies could use? It is technically possible to recycle polypropylene, the material used in many food containers. The challenge lies in separating it from other plastics, including its own many variations, once […]

Untitled Document What does it mean for a building to be “LEED-certified?” Does that mean it is a green building? LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the U.S. Green Building Council’s national program for certifying environmentally sustainable design, construction, and resource-use practices for the American building industry. The organization launched the rating […]