What Can You Do Right Now?

Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only - not the street or sidewalk.

 

Use the microwave to cook small meals. (It uses less power than an oven.)

 

Purchase "Green Power" for your home's electricity. (Contact your power supplier to see where and if it is available.)

 

Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes before loading into the dishwasher; wash only full loads.

 

Cut back on air conditioning and heating use if you can.

 

Turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.

 

More Tips »

 

Green Articles

* 05/14/2008

U.S. lists polar bear as threatened species
The Interior Department declared the polar bear a threatened species Wednesday, saying it must be protected because of the decline in Arctic sea ice from global warming.

Researchers in Hampton studying pollution's effects on our planet
"The idea is to improve our models that we use to understand climate change because only models are going to allow us to predict future climate change," says NASA Langley scientist Chris Hostetler.

VIDEO

* 05/09/2008

President signs Wild Sky Wilderness bill
Nearly six years after it was first introduced, a bill to create a Wild Sky Wilderness near Sultan, northeast of Seattle, has become law.

* Salt water tested as fuel source
After much speculation, a process that converts sea water into a possible fuel source is gaining legitimacy.

* 05/08/2008

Making the digital switch eco-friendly
In case you haven’t heard, the TV world is changing on February 17, 2009. Television stations will begin broadcasting only in digital format, and analog TV users will have some adjustments to make.

* 05/07/2008

Sleep green on organic bedding
A Norfolk company is selling the products made from Kapok to organic cotton and wool. They're completely renewable and sustainable.

Video:Organic Bedding

WVEC.com:Project Green reports

* 05/06/2008

How to keep cool without going broke
You don't have to pay through the nose to keep cool this summer. Here are some steps you can take to lower your bill, improve comfort and help save the planet.

* 05/02/2008

Major Arctic sea ice melt is expected this summer
The Arctic will remain on thinning ice, and climate warming is expected to begin affecting the Antarctic also, scientists said Friday.

* 05/01/2008

8 ways to green your technology
Technology is a HUGE part of our daily lives. We carry around cell phones and media players, work all day on a computer and come home to watch television.

* 04/30/2008

Sam's Club starts online electronics recycling program
Sam's Club warehouse stores are starting a new online recycling program for electronics that will pay for some of the items that customers want to discard. Under the program announced Tuesday by Sterling, Va.-based NEW Customer Service Companies Inc., Sam's Club will help its members dispose of older small- to medium-size electronics.

* Tourism industry struggles to shrink environmental footprint
Citing green hotels, coconut oil fuel for airlines and even recyclable golf tees, executives in one of the world's largest industries say they are urgently trying to shrink tourism's oversized environmental footprint.

Granby students go green to help the environment
"One of the main goals of 'Granby Go Green' is to get better recycling in school, said club founder Kelsey Seate.

VIDEO

* 04/29/2008

Earth-friendly options available for rebuilding
Several manufacturers have realized the market potential of changing their practices to make products that look no different from their old materials. And while no company is perfect, at least the options exist.

* Losing more plastic at Whole Foods
Instead of the usual plastic, cardboard, or styrofoam (gasp!) containers found in most supermarket self-service food sections, Whole Foods customers now pile their ready-made salads and other such sundries into completely compostable containers.

* 04/23/2008

Donate cell phones to plant trees
Cell phone recycling company iRecyclePhones.com has partnered with American Forests to plant a tree for each cell phone donated starting Earth Day, April 22.

* 04/22/2008

Government fuel economy plan targets 31.6 mpg by 2015
Transportation Department Secretary Mary Peters outlined the plan on Earth Day, setting a schedule that was more aggressive than initially expected by industry officials.

* Awareness building of inefficient plastic recycling
As more communities and retailers consider phasing out the use of plastic bags, more people are understanding how hard they are to dispose of. A look at the problem and how to fight it.

* Panel: Link between smog and premature death clear
Short-term exposure to smog, or ozone, is clearly linked to premature deaths that should be taken into account when measuring the health benefits of reducing air pollution.

* Dalai Lama speaks on environmental responsibility
The Dalai Lama said Sunday the need for environmental responsibility dovetails with Buddhist teachings on valuing human life, whether that is one person or the world's entire population.

* 04/21/2008

Eco-books share tips on living 'green'
With Earth Day fast approaching, books on "living green" are covering bookstore shelves like kudzu – everything from the encyclopedic Green Living for Dummies to tips on doing the right environmental thing from actor Ed Begley Jr.

* U.S. hybrid sales up 38 percent in 2007
Hybrids made up just 2.2 percent of the U.S. market share for the year, but they were growing steadily even as overall sales declined 3 percent.

* 04/18/2008

How it works: Earth-friendly paint labeling
As manufacturers are required by the government to cut down on additional solvents by either reformulating or discontinuing their paint, more low- and no-VOC paint is popping up on hardware store shelves, putting it on the average consumer's radar. Here's how to find the right paint for your home.

* 04/17/2008

Watchdog: Organic baby formula uses banned ingredients
A Wisconsin group claims organic baby formula commonly uses ingredients that are prohibited by federal regulations and wants the government to stop the practice.

* 04/16/2008

Bush revises strategy on curbing greenhouse gases
Revising his stance on global warming, President Bush on Wednesday proposed a new target for stopping the growth of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

* Government raises safety questions about chemical in plastics
A chemical used to make baby bottles and other shatterproof plastic containers could be linked to a range of hormonal problems, a preliminary government report has found.

* Muir Woods celebrates a century of conservation
There was a time when these trees came close to feeling the bite of loggers' saws. But stout efforts by early preservationists turned the area into a national monument in 1908.

* Organic gardening starts with seeds
There are the differences visible only to the practiced eye between conventional seeds and their organic equivalents. The variations can make all the difference in your garden.

* 04/15/2008

Group finds 6 million pounds of trash on world's beaches
Volunteers scoured 33,000 miles of shoreline worldwide and found 6 million pounds of debris from cigarette butts and food wrappers to abandoned fishing lines and plastic bags that threaten seabirds and marine mammals.

Outlook for Houston solar power: Cloudy
If we told you your electricity-provider would give you $10,000 for certain home improvements, you might not believe us. Well, it’s true -- but not for us.

* Bush plans Wednesday speech on climate change
In a speech Wednesday, President Bush will outline the way he thinks the United States can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and challenge lawmakers on climate change legislation up for debate in June.

* 04/10/2008

Stay beautiful and help the Gulf with Aveda's Earth Month
Do a good thing for yourself and the Earth by bidding on services at an Aveda salon in April! All proceeds benefit the Gulf Restoration Network.

* 04/09/2008

What do you do with that old cell phone?
According to a study done by Strategy Analytics, 1.1 billion cell phones were sold in 2007. With a current world population of about 6.8 billion, that puts a cell phone in one of every 6 people’s pockets.

* 04/08/2008

Preservation group: Before you tear down and rebuild, consider the environmental costs
Americans love tearing down buildings. We rip our homes up to the studs, scrape them down to their foundations, and are riveted by the ultimate demolitions: imploding skyscrapers.

* States using drug 'recycling' programs to help cure budget ills
The struggle to keep soaring medical costs in check is feeding an increase in state programs that collect unused prescription drugs to give away to the uninsured and poor.

* 04/03/2008

Stay green in style at these eco-savvy lodgings
Hotels are now doing the water-saving themselves: installing low-flow fixtures, recycling gray water in landscaping, even solar-heating your shower.

* 04/02/2008

Kids can turn trash to treasure with Earth Day crafts
To honor Earth Day in kids' crafting, one really needs to think trash. That is, "What can I rescue from the garbage bin and reuse?"

* 04/01/2008

Eco-friendly gardening is easy with a few simple steps
For the most part, creating an eco-friendly garden involves returning to the Earth as much as or more than what you've been taking out of it. And it can be done on the cheap.

* 03/26/2008

Company creates windpower for high-rise buildings
The company -- Building Turbines -- wants to harness wind power to help keep the lights on in some major commercial buildings.

* Environmentalists sue federal government over inaction on listing endangered species
Environmentalists claim promises to whittle down a backlog of plants and animals being considered for endangered species protection amount to "smoke and mirrors."

* Headliners announced for simultaneous Earth Day events
The Roots, Ricky Skaggs, Los Lonely Boys, the Neville Brothers and Mickey Hart from the Grateful Dead are among the headliners for eight simultaneous Earth Day festivals April 20.

* 03/25/2008

Western Antarctic ice chunk collapses
A chunk of Antarctic ice about seven times the size of Manhattan suddenly collapsed, putting an even greater portion of glacial ice at risk, scientists said Tuesday.

* 03/20/2008

Wal-Mart's latest green store cuts energy use up to 45 percent
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will open its latest generation of energy-efficient test stores this week with a Las Vegas Supercenter that uses new cooling technology to cut overall energy use by up to 45 percent.

* 03/19/2008

Global warming rushes timing of spring
The fingerprints of man-made climate change are evident in seasonal timing changes for thousands of species on Earth, according to dozens of studies.

* 03/13/2008

EPA tightens limits on smog
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency tightened the nationwide limit on ozone, or smog, but the decision didn't seem to please anyone.

* 03/11/2008

Making 'green' investments grow takes research and patience
The growing trend toward clean and alternative energy sources represents an investment opportunity for those who do it right.

* Beauty industry creates standards for organic labeling
The beauty industry has formed a new industry association to back standards for eco-friendly products.

* 03/06/2008

Sewage-based fertilizer safety doubted
It was a farm idea with a big payoff and supposedly no downside: ridding lakes and rivers of raw sewage and industrial pollution by converting it all into a free, nutrient-rich fertilizer.

* 03/05/2008

A little creativity brings new life to old things
Given fears of a recession and worries about overflowing landfills, there's new incentive to find second lives for many household items.

* 02/26/2008

Even your dog is getting green
Fueled by increasing popularity of environmentally friendly products of all kinds, the sustainable pet product industry is expected to grow to nearly $1 billion in sales by 2009.

* 02/25/2008

USPS approves reusable envelope line
Tired of all the paper associated with credit card bills and your electricity statement? You may soon have one less piece to worry about.

* 02/22/2008

Explaining the Recycling Symbol
You can find the chasing arrow symbol on many of your favorite products, issuing a call to action that you should recycle. But the symbol itself involves much more than just dropping off your products in a bin.

* 02/18/2008

Ted Danson presses for protecting the oceans
The star of the long-running hit TV show "Cheers" on Thursday called for better practices to protect the world's oceans from overfishing and mercury contamination.

* 02/14/2008

Generation Green taking on parents to help them save the planet
Say hello to Generation Green. They've been learning how to save the planet since toddlerhood, and they're taking on their parents to do more, do better.

* 02/12/2008

Easier options for cutting down on junk mail
There's nothing like a flood of holiday catalogs — followed by an even bigger flood of post-holiday sales catalogs — to make families think about trying to get their names off mailing lists.

* 02/07/2008

Old Crocs come back to live in needy places
Old Crocs are getting a second chance — and giving many needy people around the world their first pair of shoes.

* 02/05/2008

Do 'green' Web sites really make a difference?
Terms like "carbon footprint" are familiar in Seattle. Now you can go to Web sites to donate money to help offset your carbon use, but do these Web sites really make a difference?

* 02/01/2008

Hemp and high fashion share the runway ahead of New York Fashion Week
The future of fashion is wrapped in hemp, soy, bamboo and old cashmere — and it looks pretty darn good.

* Test driving the new Smart car from Swatch and Mercedes-Benz
Like a roll of Mentos candy on wheels, Daimler AG's Smart car is the ultimate fresh-maker. Pedestrians stop and gawk.

* 01/28/2008

Good question: How can I recycle my old electronics?
Perhaps armed with a new loot of electronics now that the holidays are over, consumers might find old cell phones, printers and TVs taking up space in junk drawers and basements.

* 01/23/2008

Study: Warming may cut U.S. hurricane hits
Global warming could reduce how many hurricanes hit the United States, according to a new federal study that clashes with other research.

* 01/22/2008

Whole Foods to phase out plastic grocery bags
Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods Market announced Tuesday it will stop using disposable plastic grocery bags at supermarket checkouts and encourage reusable bags instead.

* 01/21/2008

Sweden to study belching cows
Cattle release methane, a greenhouse gas believed to contribute to global warming, when they digest their food.

* 01/17/2008

Save thousands of dollars with these shopping tips
A family of four can save thousands of dollars a year simply by buying products in the largest size they can use and by buying long lasting reusable items.

* 01/16/2008

Green roof project a model for cities
Research underway on the viability of green roofs has drawn national attention as communities learn how they work and how to implement them.

01/21/2008

8 Ways to Practice Product Stewardship
Product stewardship is the process of evaluating the entire lifecycle of the products we buy and use. It involves how they are made, how they arrive at stores, how you use them and what happens to them when you no longer need them. Here are eight easy ways to ensure that you are being a good product steward.

* 01/16/2008

CFL Sales Double in 2007
EPA reports that 2007 sales for Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs nearly doubled from 2006, and these sales accounted for approximately 20 percent of the U.S. light bulb market.

* 01/04/2008

Going Green in the New Year
It’s that time of year again. The holidays have come and gone, and a new year lies ahead. It’s a time for reminiscing, for embracing old traditions and establishing new ones. Hence the tradition of New Year’s resolutions.

* Benefits of Glass Recycling
Glass is a material recycled by many curbside collection programs, and it is also taken in at most municipal recycling centers. Here are some of the important reasons to recycle glass containers:

* Best and Worst Seafood
What's so healthy about eating fish?  Fish is a high-protein, low-fat food that provides a range of health benefits. White-fleshed fish, in particular, is lower in fat than any other source of animal protein, and oilier fish contain substantial quantities of omega-3s, or the "good" fats in the human diet. In addition, fish does not contain the "bad" fats commonly found in red meat  -- called omega-6 fatty acids.

* Cold Facts About Fireplaces
When you light a blazing fire on a cold winter day it looks and feels wonderful, but it can be an expensive and inefficient endeavor. A fireplace sends most of the heat in your house straight up the chimney. A fireplace can exhaust as much as 24,000 cubic feet of air per hour to the outside! But, there are ways you can limit the loss of heat when enjoying a quiet evening by the fire.

02/07/2008

8 Ways to Green Your Home
Here are eight easy ways to be eco-friendly around the house.

Green gift ideas for Valentine's Day
The red hot gifts this Valentine's Day are actually green gifts! From traditional to creative, you can find some romantic, eco-friendly gift ideas on www.GreenDallas.net that are sure to impress your sweetie this Valentine's Day:

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