Green Lifestyle

GE is beginning a new experiment in a handful of test cities to see if it can achieve dramatic reductions in home energy use. 

Armed with RFID chips and a disdain for those residents who simply refuse to put out their recyclables in a timely manner, an army of "smart" recycling bins will soon descend on Cleveland to enact their green environmental goodness.

Provocative, Miami-based architect (and, I would argue, philosopher) Steve Mouzon is on my short list of Other Writers Who Make Me Think. His latest Original Green post does not disappoint, juxtaposing an intriguing comparison between what Steve calls ‘the poverty of large’ and ‘the luxury of small’: when we reduce our range, Steve posits, we are better able to improve and enjoy the things on which we focus.

Challenge yourself this summer with these 10 useful tips to eliminate your water waste!

In addition to saving money on your utility bill, water conservation helps prevent water pollution in nearby lakes, rivers and local watersheds.  Conserving water can also extend the life of your septic system by reducing soil saturation, and reducing any pollution due to leaks.

We didn't think so.

Neither are ours.

At least not yet.

It is a beautiful spring day in DC - perfect for biking (and walking) and a perfect day to applaud U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood's new policy on biking.

Monday was World Water Day - a day recognized by the United Nations to draw attention to the growing water crisis.

When you work on water for a living, every day sort of feels like “water day.” And it is easy to forget that while we in the U.S. have serious water problems of our own, some of which have been vividly illustrated in a terrific series in the New York Times this year and last, many of these problems pale in comparison to those in other parts of the world.

I spend a lot of my working hours fighting to pass clean energy and climate legislation that will reduce America’s global warming pollution. But I also take steps in my personal life to cut down my own carbon emissions.

I stopped eating red meat and stick with vegetarian options most of the week, I installed compact florescent light bulbs, I signed up for renewable power through my utility Con Edison, and I take public transit to work.

Google Maps has added a new feature.

In addition to driving directions, walking directions, and public transportation directions, everyone's favorite online mapping tool now offers bicycling directions.

What does stormwater runoff have to do with home composting and rain barrels? We’ll get to that in a minute, but first we have some more basic topics to discuss.