Although it’s discouraging to see the EnergySTAR program potentially cut, it’s valuable for households to make an effort to improve their energy usage or buy energy-efficient appliances, in whatever steps possible for them.
Artificial turf fields have been rising in popularity as a low-maintenance (no mowing or watering) alternative to natural grass. Can you set the record straight about whether artificial turf is actually bad for our health and/or the environment?
In addition to industrial projects, the loss of biodiversity through deforestation and the subsequent extinction of animal species decreases food sources and the supply of traditional medicine. Citizens and governments must make efforts toward preserving the cultures and homelands of hunter-gatherer groups.
Clean energy generation — or energy generation without the output of harmful greenhouse gases — has become an increasingly hot topic in today’s race for productivity and the growing global emphasis on eco-consciousness.
Environmental advocates warn that AI’s rising energy use, increased emissions from building infrastructure, and the potential to slow down clean energy efforts may become serious threats in our fight against climate change.
Beneath the glossy finish of a manicure or pedicure may lie health and environmental concerns. With greater awareness and support for greener innovation, we can shape a nail care industry that prioritizes long-term health over short-term beauty.
When people think of wildlife, they often picture animals wandering in nature. However, in the past 15 years, scientists have found more animals moving into and thriving in cities — sometimes even more successfully than in their natural habitats.
Many don’t consider wood pellets renewable resource, which is one that does not exhaust Earth’s resources. Trees that are ideal for wood pellets don’t quickly regenerate. One idea has been to use fast-growing pine plantations, but they’re less biodiverse and bad at capturing carbon.
Congestion pricing seeks to manage demand for road space in busy areas. Drivers pay a fee to enter these zones with electronic tolling systems that track vehicles and collect payments. The revenue generated is usually invested into improving public transportation and infrastructure.
At least 25 percent of FCCs, including BPAs and plasticizers, can be found in the human body due to exposure to food packaging, and can be extremely hazardous to our health. Due to the prevalence of FCCs in so much food packaging, it is impossible to fully avoid them, however there are ways to minimize your risks.
Consumers can help the movement away from coal by opting for renewable energy sources, either by selecting them from your utility’s offerings or installing your own solar panels (or wind turbines) where you live or work.
There are varied opinions on the best methods for removing pesticide residues from produce, and no method is 100 percent effective. Rinsing produce is somewhat helpful for cleaning off dirt and germs, but soaking their fruits and vegetables in warm vinegar or salt solutions may be better.
The American Climate Corps marks a significant step in the U.S.’s approach to climate change, and offers an exciting opportunity for young Americans to get involved in the fight against climate change while gaining valuable skills and contributing to their communities.
Addressing climate anxiety is crucial not only for maintaining mental health but also for ensuring effective climate action. When individuals are paralyzed by fear, they are less likely to engage in the proactive behaviors necessary to combat climate change.
In 2014 the concept of solar powered photovoltaic road panels that could collect sunlight and convert it into useable energy went viral when the Idaho-based company Solar Roadways heralded it as a solution to the global energy crisis. So why aren’t solar roadways being installed across the U.S.?
Getting the United States to a place where our electricity needs can be met by renewables is going to take concerted effort on the part of a multitude of public and private entities.
A new study from researchers that surveyed data from 100 U.S. cities found that hotter-than-normal days—which we are getting more of every year thanks to global warming—coincide with higher incidences of gun violence.
Burning Man, the annual arts and music festival held in the middle of Nevada's Black Rock Desert. However, when it comes to the festival's environmental footprint, opinions are as diverse as the event's attendees' eclectic outfits.
Grilling is an integral part of our culinary culture. By embracing sustainable alternatives, such as electric grills or infrared grills, we can still indulge in grilling while minimizing our carbon footprint.
A shift away from fossil fuels is necessary if we are to mitigate climate change, but a serious electrician shortage in the U.S. is proving to be one of the biggest barriers to reaching this goal.
Though shark sightings may be becoming more frequent, shark numbers are dwindling. Many shark species are struggling in their native coral reefs and marine ecosystems.
The "right to roam" is a concept that allows people to access and enjoy natural areas, such as parks, forests and beaches, without being restricted by private property laws.
Environmental groups believe that lobster fishing practices are to blame for right whale deaths, while the lobster industry denies these claims, stating that there have been no right whale deaths traced back to the Maine lobster industry.
The exact number of panels you’ll need varies depending on factors including where you live, your roof's orientation and shading, the type of solar panels you choose, and your average monthly electricity usage.
Permaculture is a method of cultivation that uses multiple tools to minimize human impact on the environment by mimicking the zero-waste feedback loops of naturally-existing systems.
With some 43 new battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs) debuting in the U.S. this 2023 model year, there has never been a better time to make the switch from your internal combustion gas guzzler to something greener.
Not surprisingly in this day and age, you don’t need a PhD to identify plants and animals out in the natural world. All you need is a smartphone and an app.
As innocuous as it may seem, the common household air conditioner is actually a significant contributor to climate change!
Despite their status as icons of biodiversity, koalas have been in steady decline for two decades. Yet the conservation status of this Australian native has only just changed from “threatened” to “endangered” in recent months.
As temperatures rise around the world, frozen glaciers in the poles are melting at unprecedented rates, inundating the world’s oceans with more water. The result has been some sea level rise but watch out as more is still to come.
Switzerland-based Energy Vault is one of the companies developing prototype gravity energy storage solutions that could someday replace batteries as a way to hold onto energy and dole it out as needed.
In 2016 Japanese scientists at the Kyoto Institute of Tokyo took samples outside of a recycling facility in Osaka and made a revolutionary discovery: microorganisms capable of breaking down PET plastic.
Most commonly conservation dogs are used to help biologists understand where and how threatened or endangered wildlife species are hanging on—or if they are still around at all.
Hands-down, the dishwasher is the way to go, not only from the standpoint of water waste and energy use but also to preserve your own sanity. Who needs to be scrubbing, rinsing and drying dishes all day when an efficient machine can do the work?
Conservationists’ dreams of a wildlife corridor stretching from the Yukon to Yellowstone (Y2Y) where “charismatic megafauna” like bears, wolves and caribou can roam freely and have enough continuous undisturbed habitat to thrive is slowly becoming a reality.
Since many people shop for the experience and enjoy the feeling of buying clothes more than the clothing article itself, slow fashion emphasizes choosing high-quality pieces made with sustainable materials.
It’s hard to believe the bald eagle was on the brink of extinction in the Lower 48 United States just a half-century ago, given how common the majestic birds are all over the country nowadays. Some American farmers are wondering if maybe we have too much of a good thing, given a recent uptick of eagles’ preying on livestock.
The effects of climate change can be felt all over the globe in various ways, but America’s national parks seem to be suffering more than U.S. overall landmass. The only way to really turn things around across the board is to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions.
A bright moon hangs over the clear, terrestrial night sky permeated by winking stars, illuminating the town below with various hues of blue.
Backyard wind turbines could help us make the transition away from fossil fuels and towards...
The U.S. plastics recycling industry is healthy and their message is clear: We need all the recycled containers you can send us, and more.
Dear EarthTalk: What are the ramifications of these horrendous fires taking place now in the Amazon Rainforest? What can be done to stop the madness?
Dear EarthTalk: I was appalled to find out on a recent backpacking trip to Yosemite National Park that I could get three bars of service on my cell phone. What about getting away from it all?
Dear EarthTalk: Why are so many gray whales washing up dead on west coast beaches this spring?
Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard about “Zero Waste” grocery stores in Europe where everything is sold in bulk and customers bring and fill up their own reusable containers and bags. When will we get some of these here on this “side of the pond”?
Dear EarthTalk: After reading an EarthTalk piece on climate divestment, I’m looking to switch my checking and savings accounts to an environmentally friendly bank. Any ideas?
Dear EarthTalk: What is the so-called Green New Deal proposed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and is Congress likely to go for it?
Dear EarthTalk: It seems to me the single biggest potential “environmental” problem we could face—even bigger than global warming or a nuclear war—is a comet or asteroid striking the Earth.
Dear EarthTalk: When will those gasoline driven leaf blowers that gardeners use be outlawed? The noise and toxic fumes they emit can’t be good for us.
Essayist and poet Gary Snyder likes to tell the tale of coming home from a walk through the forest surrounding his home in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains to find a wild cougar sitting under a window…
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