Americans have come a long way in their commitment to preserve and protect the environment since a groundbreaking survey from 1990 took the pulse of their green attitudes and behavior. Conventional wisdom holds that increased knowledge about the environment leads to more action and empowerment on the part of Americans. And certainly, their knowledge has risen. Today, 73 percent say they know a lot or a fair amount about environmental issues and problems, up from 50 percent earlier. Compared to 20 years ago, twice as many Americans are taking proactive steps to help the environment. Today, 58 percent of Americans recycle, 29 percent buy green products regularly and 18 percent commute in an environmentally friendly manner. What is so encouraging – and what we really need to understand – is that these small, green steps are indeed impactful. These individual steps are made possible because individuals have a desire to modify their behavior, but also because businesses and governments have taken a leadership role in facilitating these changes by providing the right tools, products and processes. [Read this article]
After 20 Years, Consumers Are Finally Getting Greener
Date: 12/01/2011 | Source: GreenBiz.com 
Energy Efficiency Wins Top Prize At EPA App Contest
Date: 12/01/2011 | Source: Department Of Energy
Quick, if I want to replace a 60-watt incandescent light bulb with an energy efficient fluorescent or LED bulb, what wattage should I choose to keep the same level of illumination? If you don’t know, there’s now an app for that. The winner of best overall app at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Apps for the Environment is called Light Bulb Finder, a free iOS and Android application that helps a user choose the energy efficient bulbs that best match their home’s current lighting conditions. For example, if I want to replace an open sconce, 5” diameter globe bulb in my bathroom with a standard base and a power of 60 watts, Light Bulb Finder recommends an ENERGY STAR 14-watt compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) that fits my wall sconce. Even better, the app estimates the energy savings from changing the bulb, and how long it will take for the bulb to pay for itself. I can then save the bulb to my shopping list, or order it directly via the app. [Read this article]
9 Tips To Keep Holiday Shopping Sane (And Green)
Date: 12/01/2011 | Source: The Daily Green
The holidays are a joyful time, and there’s little that feels as good as giving someone you love the perfect gift. But the ad-driven imperative to Buy! Buy! Buy! can pollute that well of good will, the difficulty deciphering marketing claims can make you dizzy, and the mountains of packaging waste leftover afterward can leave you feeling, well, dirty. Here, we offer a few tips to keep the joy in holiday gift shopping, while keeping it green. When you hit the streets, look for opportunities to buy from local artists, artisans and businesses. That way the dollars you spend contribute more to the community where you live. Also, the mound of wrapping paper, plastic clam shell packaging, boxes and ribbons filling trash bags on the curb Dec. 26 isn’t made on Christmas morning. It’s made with each purchase during the shopping season. Choose products made from recycled materials, with minimal recyclable packaging… and be creative when you wrap your gifts. [Read this article]
Solar Landfill Provides A Shining Example
Date: 12/01/2011 | Source: CNN
Hickory Ridge landfill was once a mountain of trash sitting idle on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia. But now, with its 10 acres of solar panels, the old landfill has been given a new lease of “green” life. “When a landfill is (finished with) taking waste, it basically is dormant and there’s not a lot of uses for the property,” says David Stuart, area environmental manager of landfill owners, Republic Services, Inc. “But its natural attributes – being a tall structure, out of the shadows of the tree line – gives it a unique advantage as a solar project,” he added. The Spectral PowerCap designed by the Carlisle Energy Services is lined with 7,000 flexible solar strips which produces one megawatt of energy. The electricity generated is collected in each panel much like a solar calculator would, says Stuart. But rather than powering a keyboard it goes towards helping power the local grid. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency there are around 100,000 closed landfills in the U.S. providing thousands of acres of property that could be used for renewable energy development. [Read this article]
Nostalgic LED: Traditional Looks Meet Nontraditional Energy Savings
Date: 12/01/2011 | Source: Mother Nature Network
Here’s a new low-energy light bulb to keep an eye out for in the near future: The Panasonic LED Nostalgic Clear Type. The Nostalgic Clear Type is the Japanese electronic giant’s attempt to appease consumers scared off by the terrifying, alien forms of energy-saving light bulbs like LEDs and CLFs; folks looking for an energy-saving bulb that appears more, well, more light bulb-y. True to its name, the Nostalgic bares an uncanny resemblance to Edison’s old-school incandescent filament light bulbs but with all the qualities of an A-rated, mercury-free LED: a long life of 40,000 hours (40 years give or take), 80 percent energy savings over comparable, 20W incandescent bulbs, an output of 200 lumens, and an agreeable, soft color of 2700 Kelvins. The one caveat? The Nostalgic, which uses only 4.4 watts of juice, isn’t dimmable. [Read this article]
A Costly Winter Ahead For Home Heating Oil Users
Date: 12/01/2011 | Source: CNN Money
The price of heating the average home with oil is expected to jump 10% this year to an average of $2,535 over the winter heating season (October 1 through March 31), according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). That’s 45% higher than just two years ago, when the average bill was just $1,752. While only about 8.2 million homes still use heating oil, according to Census Bureau data, a vast majority of those homes are in the Northeast, where long, cold winters require greater fuel consumption. For those who heat their homes with gas, prices are projected to be stable over the next few years. There’s a glut of natural gas available and more is coming on line as new sources. The average homeowner will pay only about $732 to heat their home with gas this season. Heating homes with electricity will cost an average of $954 this winter, down $8 from last year. [Read this article]
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