Know Your Electric Car Trivia?

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 11:10:03 -0500

Know Your Electric Car Trivia?

Electric cars still look and drive like gas-powered cars, but what's under the hood is quite different. Test your knowledge of electric cars in this quiz.
by Michael Graham Richard

How muc]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

What's an Average American Diet?

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:01:15 -0500

What's an Average American Diet?

The average American diet includes some surprising numbers and amounts. How close is your diet to "average?"
by Matt McDermott

How many pounds of red meat does t]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Betty White, the Morris Animal Foundation, and Do Dah Day Help Wildlife in the Gulf

Tue, 18 May 2010 09:16:41 -0500

Morris Animal Foundation recently established the Betty White Wildlife Rapid Response Fund to "give wildlife researchers timely monetary aid to respond to unexpected events, such as natural disasters and emerging diseases, that result in the immediate need for animal health research." That was before the Gulf oil spill. After the spill, the situation for local wildlife has become precar]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Inkjet-Inspired Gadget 'Prints' New Skin Cells Over Burns

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:59:38 -0500

Researchers at Wake Forest University have rigged up a device that can spray new skin cells onto burn victims. Really.

Inspired by the standard inkjet printer, according to Reuters, the device quickly protects and helps heal a burn wound. The procedure could supplant skin grafts as the standard treatment for burn victims. The researchers have mounted the device on a frame so that it can be wheeled directly over a patient in a hospital bed. A laser takes a reading of the wound's shape and size, so that the precise amount of skin cells can be applied exactly where they're needed.

"We literally print the cells directly onto the wound," said student Kyle Binder, who helped design the device. "We can put specif]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Share a Green Music Tip for Billboard Magazine's Green Issue

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:59:43 -0500

Artists like Dave Matthews Band and Jack Johnson have done great things on their tours to bring their music to the masses in an earth-friendly way.

But now -- in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in April -- the good folks at Billboard magazine are looking to all you green music fans to share ideas on how everyday people can make rocking out greener.

The ]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Earth Month 2010 - Going Beyond "Green"

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:26:53 -0500

It's pretty amazing that we've been celebrating Earth Day for 40 years now. Though the specific campaigns have grown and changed over time, the message has remained: Let's celebrate the planet. Think global, act local. Make Earth Day every day. Together, we can all make a difference.

That message has produced some eye-opening results over time. As we turn the corner on the second decade of the 21st century, we've got a lot to look back on, but even more to look forward to. That's the idea behind our Earth Day feature for this year: Let's look forward to another 40 years of great accomplishments.

Now's the time to re-evaluate what "green" means or whether it's accurate. The holiday's message of sustainability touches almost every aspect of life and every interest group, ]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

A Letter from a Senior Citizen to Young People: Don't Make the Mistakes We Made

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:55:41 -0500

Editor's note: The following is a letter written by Gene Steele, with some green advice for younger generations (and some thoughts for older generations as well). It first appeared at The Good Human and has appeared on Twilight Earth as well. Reprinted with permission.

My name is Gene Steele, I live in Oakland, Ca. and I want to change the world. I was born in 1945 and have lived through several horrific wars and the ever present threat of man's self destruction through global nuclear conflict. Yet, I have never felt so vulnerable as I have s]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Learn to Find Green Lamb: Grass-Fed vs. Organic and More

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:55:59 -0500

Lamb is a traditional dish served at a lot of Easter and other holiday tables (and it's pretty good other times, too). The small ruminant can be a delicious alternative to red meat, but if you aren't careful about where it comes from, it can have a larger contribution to global warming, and a pretty horrible life to boot. If lamb is on your menu over the holidays, be sure that you know where yours came from, and arm yourself with the right info to make a green choice.

Before we get too far, let's get the caveat out of the way. The production (and eventually consumption of) lamb, like any other meat, has a not insignificant impact on climate change and greenhouse gas emissio]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Pick Up a Green Holiday Wine to Enjoy with Your Turkey (or Whatever You Eat)

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:59:36 -0500

Holidays are a busy time. Once you're finished stuffing the turkey, prepped the Tofurky, and/or gone over the river and through the woods, the beverage(s) to accompany your meal can sort of be left to an afterthought. Add to that the disparate elements that often accompany a holiday meal -- rich gravy, tart cranberries, sweet squash or potatoes -- and finding something to complement the rich diversity on your table can be tricky. Adding organic, biodynamic, or otherwise green wines to that list of requirements migh]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Missed Out on a Fresh Local Heritage Turkey This Year? Go with a Green Last Minute Option

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:54:53 -0500

You meant to do it this year. You tried to remember to order your turkey right from the farmer when the sign was up earlier this month (or was it last month? Time sure does fly...). You swooned over the idea of picking up your turkey -- your turkey, grown especially for you -- the day before Thanksgiving, fresh and direct from the folks responsible for caring for it up until it became, well, your turkey. You thought about how great it would be to have a turkey who got to grow up and live like turkeys are supposed to, and how special the experience would be to honor its life with a perfect preparation, alongside the rest of your green celebration. You daydreamed about how delicious it would be. And then you forgot to make it happen. Don't worry, it isn't too late to get a good g]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

How to Calculate the Environmental Impact of Fruits and Veggies

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:55:54 -0500

Fruits and veggies can have a pretty significant pesticide load, depending on how they're grown. Synthetic fertilizers can be found in almost equal amounts. When both come from synthetic -- i.e. petroleum -- sources, that can pump up the environmental footprint of the fruits and veggies you eat pretty quickly. But it doesn't have to.

In a recent column, Slate.com's Green Lantern was asked for advice about how to determine such a footprint. While beef and o]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

8 Ways Going Green at Home Will Save You Money

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:58:36 -0500

When it comes to investing, there aren't many sure things, especially in our current economic climate. Playing the stock market, while always a bit risky, seems like the place money goes to die, more than ever before. While Wall Street has been a roller coaster ride lately, investing in efficiency upgrades in your home isn't subject to the mood swings of nervous investors, and, done properly, will always save you money.

Like any investment, it'll take some cash up front, but each of these steps will earn you a return; some will take a few months, while some will require a few new desk calendars before paying you back. Either way, added together, they can combine to put thousands of dollars back in your pocket while improving the value and environmental health of your home, with a]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Top 7 Ways to Eat Green This Fall and Winter

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:55:00 -0500

The days are getting shorter. The air is crisper. Daylight savings time is over, and it's full-on fall. With the big growing season over in most places, and winter right around the corner, it can be daunting us locavores, 100 mile dieters, and other green eating enthusiasts to stick to our green eating habits. Here are seven strategies for enjoying the best of your local foodshed as the calendar turns.

1. Plan ahead and preserve the harvest

It's getting late if you haven't started this one yet, but there are a few preservables yet to arrive by the bushel. This one applies all ]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

5 Green Improvements That Will Add Value to Your Home

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:19:07 -0500

When you own a house, there may seem like a never-ending list of things you want to improve, whether cosmetic -- like finally replacing peeling wallpaper or adding a splash of color with new paint -- or more functional, as with more insulation in the attic, or a more efficient heating system. But in a down housing market, in an economy that's made money a bit tighter for a lot of us, which green improvements will really add value to your home?

The good news is that a lot of green improve]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Introduction to the Green Materials Guide

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:50:07 -0500

When it comes to building or renovating a home, there are few simple choices. From styles and colors to location and design, there's an awful lot to consider. Thankfully, you don't have to settle for materials that have big-time negative impact on the planet. Here to help is our Green Materials Guide, which will help guide you through the process of finding green materials for every green project in your home.

Options for Green Windows

There are many different kinds of windows. Each operates in a different way, and each can serve a different function. All factors have an impact on how green your home is, and there are a lot of materials to consider to determine how green your windows are. From aluminum to vinyl to wood, casement to hopper to double hung (no]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Kitchen Floor Guide

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:56:43 -0500

Few floors in your home are trod upon quite as frequently as your kitchen floor. You want something that's beautiful, sure, but choosing the right material -- one that will last, that will age gracefully -- is paramount when it comes to deciding what to put on your kitchen floor. There are a lot of options, and a lot of green options, thankfully, but a variety of important factors to consider before making your choice. Read our Green Materials Guide for Home Flooring to see them all, and keep these factors in mind when looking specifically for your kitchen.

Mind the moisture

Kitchens receive a disproportionate amount of liquid spills, but they're also built with ]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Introduction to Green Kitchen Design

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:50:57 -0500

Your kitchen is the heart of your home, so it's easy to see why so much time, energy, and money gets spent on just that one room. From floor to ceiling (and the cabinets and countertops in between), there's a lot that goes in to making a green kitchen, and a lot of choices out there; while that can make greener materials a little easier to come by, it also means there are more decisions to make, and more factors to consider. Read our Green Materials Guide for Kitchen Design to help you narrow down the materials available to you, and get started with a few simple tips below.

Durability is an important factor

There are few areas of a home that receive as much traf]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Introduction to Wall Coverings

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:50:49 -0500

Deciding what goes on your walls might seem like a simple decision -- paint vs. wallpaper, solid colors vs. patterns -- but it can have a lot to do with the environmental health in your home. Yep, green is more than a paint color when it comes to wall coverings, but you'll also want to pick the right material for the right room, considering how long you want it to stay the same, and how it'll wear over time. There's a lot to think about; read our green materials guide for wall coverings for the full story, keeping in mind these tips.

How much do you really like that color and pattern?

The notion of painting the interior of a house is the bane of many a ]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Introduction to Bathroom Designs

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:50:26 -0500

Despite being one of the smaller rooms in most homes, the modern bathroom serves many purposes. It's a sanctuary, a room for pampering, and where we clean ourselves, but it's also where myriad household toxins lurk, and where much of the average home's water goes right down the drain. But don't fret. There are so many ways to green your bathroom design, you'll never have to waste water or pollute the environment again. Read our Green Materials Guide for Bathroom Designs to learn more about the ideas and materials that'll make your bathroom more about zen relaxation than wasting water; here are a few tips to get you started.

Look everywhere for water conservation

... Read the full story on Planet Green

Introduction to Green Flooring: Durability and Moisture Exposure Matter

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:48:46 -0500

Green Flooring Basics

We all walk on it every day, but don't often think of it. It's underfoot, and, for many of us, out of mind. But just because you trod on it doesn't mean you shouldn't pay close attention to the materials that make up your flooring. Here are a few tips to find the best green material for the job; check out the full materials guide for home flooring to get all the details.

Decide on the Durability You Need in Your Floor

A properly installed hardwood floor is going to last a lot longer than carpet (but it'll be more expensive). A cork or linoleum floor is more susceptible to really hot spills that might happen in a kitchen, or around ]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

How to Poop in the Woods

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:37:32 -0500

Everybody poops. And though you can escape your job, your house, and even other people in the great outdoors, you're going to have to go at some point. And while it might seem kinda green, in that back-to-nature sort of way, to just drop trow and do your business, the truth is you have to know the protocol when it comes time to poop in the woods.

First off, though, what's the big deal here? Well, while the developed world has a huge, expensive, energy- and water-intensive infrastructure to deal with our waste, the great outdoors has no such system. And, though our leavings are biodegradable, that doesn't happen overnight; while your poo is getting 'recycled,' it's still pretty dirty, full of bacteria and a host of stuff that we need to keep out of the way. Not just out of your wa]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Bathroom Sink, Shower, and Bathtub Guide

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:42:47 -0500

Basics for bathroom sink, shower, and bathtub materials

Choosing which materials catch water in your bathroom may seem like an insignificant choice -- as long as it holds it when you want, and drains it when you want, you're ok, right? Maybe not so much...the function may be the same, but the materials are quite different, and they make a big difference.

Porcelain

Porcelain is the material most often chosen for bathroom sinks, and it's popular for tubs and showers, too. It offers a mid-level price point (white is cheapest; custom colors cost more), medium durability, and rates about the same on the green scale, too.

Pros of Porcelain

It's more durable than wood, and stands up well to exposure ]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Bathroom Tile Guide

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:40:26 -0500

Basics of Bathroom Tiles

Tile is one of the materials used most often in the bathroom, and, thankfully, the ideas, pros, and cons are similar to those in the green flooring and green kitchen countertops section of our materials guide. Before you go there, here are a few things to keep in mind in the bathroom.

Mind the Moisture

The bathroom is one of the dampest, wettest places in your home. Even though it may take years or decades, you'll probably have to replace (or at least re-grout) your tiles, especially if they line the shower or surro]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Bathroom Design for Water Conservation: Water Saving Toilet, Low-flow Shower Head, Faucet Aerator

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:20:02 -0500

Basics of Water Conservation in the Bathroom

Your bathroom can be the one room in your house that uses the most water; from your toilet to your tub and shower to your sink, there's a lot of water that goes down the drain. Each can be minimized with the help of smart materials, though; check out our guide to water conservation in the bathroom.

Toilets

If your bathroom's toilet has been updated since 1994, when a federal mandate was issued, then you have a "low-flow toilet" that uses 1.6 gallons per flush; before that, a toilet might flush 3.5 gallons each time you hit the handle. So if you haven't replaced your toilet in the last 15 years or so, that's definitely job one; if you have, here are some other options that'll save even more]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Kitchen Countertops Guide

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:42:15 -0500

Basics for Kitchen Countertops

The countertop is the showpiece of your kitchen, but it has to be functional and durable, too. Just as there are many styles to fit any taste, there are a growing number of green options available, depending on your budget, how you use your kitchen, and how green you want it to be.

Because you prepare the food you eat on and around your countertop, the choice you make can have significant environmental health impacts. No kitchen counter will have absolutely zero impact, but you can use this guide to help figure out which mixture of choices is right for you.

Granite Countertops

The ever-popular choice is a symbol of class and elegance for some, but there are big-time question marks, and a few serious blemishes]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Kitchen Cabinets

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:58:12 -0500

Kitchen cabinets often take up the most space in your kitchen, responsible for storing everything from your pots and pans to dinnerware and more. Since they take up so much of your space, it's really important that you choose green materials, not just for the planet, but for your personal health; with all the wood and wood derivatives, and their finishes and adhesives, there's lots of potential to make your home (and you) sick. Here's the scoop on choosing green kitchen cabinet materials.

Solid Wood Cabinets

Like other green building material uses, it doesn't get much better than solid wood. Choosing solid wood will give you a beautiful, durable product that will stand up to heavy use over a long period.

Pros of Solid Wood Cabinets

<]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Know Your Farmers' Market? (Quiz)

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:34:19 -0500

How often do you shop at your local farmers' market? You may know the best spots to get the freshest produce. You probably have a favorite vendor that you're always sure to visit. You may even recognize or know the farmers from whom you buy your food. But how well do you know your markets?

Shopping at farmers' markets is a great way to know where your food comes from, and it helps support your local economy and build community. See how well you know how they work by taking our quiz:

Know Your Farmers' Market?

Study up on farmers' markets first
Read the full story on Planet Green

How to Be an Eco-Friendly Milk Consumer

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:50:32 -0500

Look at a glass of milk, and you might not think there's much to it. It's white, it's available everywhere, and it comes by the gallon. But hiding behind many of the labels and homogenized gallons are a myriad of green issues that can make it tricky to navigate all the choices that go with finding a green glass of milk. So, how can you be an eco-friendly milk consumer?

Like any green consumer choice, there's more than meets the eye. Most often, the milk we consume is an animal product, and so that requires lots of energy inputs, treatment to get it safely (and legally) from farm to market, and finally packaging and shipping the stuff. So there's a lot to think about, and a lot of gray area, with each little glass of the white stuff.

Sourcing green milk

When]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Celebrate National Honey Bee Awareness Day

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:50:17 -0500

Today, Saturday, August 22, is the first ever National Honey Bee Awareness Day. While bees are perhaps best known for keeping the world supplied with honey, the amazing striped insects deserving of their own day of awareness for a variety of other reasons, too.

Bees make honey. Honey is awesome

We have bees to thank for the wondrous natural sweetener that is honey. Their busy-ness nets the truly fascinating and beneficial sweet goo; though it depends on the floral variety of honey, but many may include body-boosters like niacin, riboflavin, calcium, and iron, and it's known for its antioxidant value.

In fact, a study out of the University of California-Davis detected higher levels of polyphenolic antioxidants in participants ]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Watch an Exclusive Sneak Peek of the "No Impact Man" Documentary

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:59:53 -0500

'No Impact Man,' a.k.a. Colin Beavan, the New York City resident who spent a year trying to effectively negate his impact on the planet, had some big hurdles to clear when it came to greening his life to the extreme. How do you stop creating waste? How do you come close to zeroing out your carbon footprint? These are tough tasks he had to find solutions for, but he also had to do all those other day-to-day jobs to get by. One of those jobs: Doing the laundry.

Check out this exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming "No Impact Man" documentary to see how you keep your clothes clean while having no impact on the planet.

More on green laundry
Read the full story on Planet Green

Why Should I Choose Reusable over Recyclable?

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:16:11 -0500

Ever heard this one? "I don't need to carry my own reusable water bottle. I'll just recycle this disposable one later." It might sound like a reasonable compromise, but let's not delude ourselves here. Sure, recycling can have a green impact, but it's important to be able to triage one supposedly green action above another. For the skeptical among you, getting lulled into the recycling catch-all can seem like an easy way to be green -- or, in the case of skeptics among us, feel like you're being green. Add to that that it can be easy to confuse greener and green, and it can become quite problema]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Are You Confusing "Greener" with "Green?"

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:34:55 -0500

There's certainly no shortage of so-called green information out there these days. Advice for "going green" or "saving the planet" or some combination of the two seem to be around every corner, in every magazine, and all over the internet. While more information is certainly better than less, when it comes to actions we can take to lessen our collective and individual footprints, it can be hard to digest and triage all that info. In short: We're all in danger of confusing "greener" with "green."

This might seem like an inconsequential difference -- a trivial distinction; after all, more information leads to more action, right? Well, maybe, but it's a big world, and we all only have so much bandwidth to not only absorb information, but take that information from just knowing it t]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Paint Guide

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:11:24 -0500

Wall Paint Guide

Perhaps the most popular Wall Covering in use today, painted walls are a great way to add some personality and a pop of color to a room. Unfortunately, paint can also be a way to add toxic airborne chemicals to your home, too, if you choose the wrong ones. On the flip side, green paint has really become very popular, and more and more available, over the past few years, so it's available in just about any color you can dream up. Read on to learn more about finding and using green paint.

Pros of Paint

Paint is cheap, widely available, and durable enough that you usually end up replacing it because you want a new color, and not because it requires replacement. It's easy to install, and, thanks to increasing availability of green ]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Wallpaper Guide

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:04:28 -0500

Basics of Wallpaper as a Wall Covering

Though once relegated to Grandma's house in the 1970s, wallpaper has enjoyed a bit of a comeback in home decor. That's a good thing: The old stuff could be as gaudy and over the top as it was unhealthy, and the environmental health implications of wallpaper have improved right along with the svelte new design. You still have to watch out for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and toxic adhesives, but there are a host of ways to go green when wallpapering a room. Here's the skinny.

Pros of Wallpaper

From a design perspective, wallpaper can add a wonderful pop of color and texture to a room, providing more graphic options than paint. Wallpaper, when installed properly, tends to be more durable than paint, since it te]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Clay Plaster Guide

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:58:43 -0500

Basics of Clay Plaster as a Wall Covering

Clay plaster is the Swiss Army Knife of wall coverings; it can do just about everything, but it takes some practice before you understand how to really make it work. Sort of a hybrid between paint and plaster walls — the kind you find in pre-WWII construction in this country — clay plaster is a healthy, versatile, beautiful option for your walls, offering a pretty unique finished product, if you've got some time and extra creative energy to burn.

Pros of Clay Plaster

It offers a unique opportunity to add both color and texture to your walls, and it works on any wall — it can go on any substrate, from adobe to brick to paint to wallpaper (though some require some different installatio]]>... Read the full story on Planet Green

Recent Posts By Planet Green's Collin Dunn

Know Your Electric Car Trivia?

Know Your Electric Car Trivia?

What's an Average American Diet?

What's an Average American Diet?

Betty White, the Morris Animal Foundation, and Do Dah Day Help Wildlife in the Gulf

Inkjet-Inspired Gadget 'Prints' New Skin Cells Over Burns

Share a Green Music Tip for Billboard Magazine's Green Issue

Earth Month 2010 - Going Beyond "Green"

A Letter from a Senior Citizen to Young People: Don't Make the Mistakes We Made

Learn to Find Green Lamb: Grass-Fed vs. Organic and More

Pick Up a Green Holiday Wine to Enjoy with Your Turkey (or Whatever You Eat)

Missed Out on a Fresh Local Heritage Turkey This Year? Go with a Green Last Minute Option

How to Calculate the Environmental Impact of Fruits and Veggies

8 Ways Going Green at Home Will Save You Money

Top 7 Ways to Eat Green This Fall and Winter

1. Plan ahead and preserve the harvest

5 Green Improvements That Will Add Value to Your Home

Introduction to the Green Materials Guide

Options for Green Windows

Kitchen Floor Guide

Mind the moisture

Introduction to Green Kitchen Design

Durability is an important factor

Introduction to Wall Coverings

How much do you really like that color and pattern?

Introduction to Bathroom Designs

Look everywhere for water conservation

Introduction to Green Flooring: Durability and Moisture Exposure Matter

Decide on the Durability You Need in Your Floor

How to Poop in the Woods

Bathroom Sink, Shower, and Bathtub Guide

Porcelain

Bathroom Tile Guide

Mind the Moisture

Bathroom Design for Water Conservation: Water Saving Toilet, Low-flow Shower Head, Faucet Aerator

Toilets

Kitchen Countertops Guide

Granite Countertops

Kitchen Cabinets

Solid Wood Cabinets

Know Your Farmers' Market? (Quiz)

Know Your Farmers' Market?

How to Be an Eco-Friendly Milk Consumer

Sourcing green milk

Celebrate National Honey Bee Awareness Day

Bees make honey. Honey is awesome

Watch an Exclusive Sneak Peek of the "No Impact Man" Documentary

Why Should I Choose Reusable over Recyclable?

Are You Confusing "Greener" with "Green?"

Paint Guide

Pros of Paint

Wallpaper Guide

Pros of Wallpaper

Clay Plaster Guide

Pros of Clay Plaster