We've all heard the term "carbon footprint" which is the amount of carbon dioxide you are responsible for emitting into the environment. What about a "water footprint"? You can probably easily guess that this is the amount of water you are responsible for consuming. Not consuming as in drinking, but as in the water used in our everyday lives. Some of you may immediately think of the water you use when taking showers, brushing your teeth, watering your lawn, washing your car and so forth. The fact is, we all use water directly as in the examples just stated, but also indirectly. Direct use accounts for only 5% of our total water consumption. Indirect water use can come from foods, electronics, traveling, and more. That beef we eat has to come from a cow that was raised using water. Our... Read more

First, I wanted to share these DIY ideas from Earth911.com. Take a look at the designs for jewelry and accessories using old household items. I think these ideas are inspiring and show creative ways of taking junk and repurposing them into totally cool and wearable fashion items. Next, for those of you who struggle with your creative abilities (myself included), make sure to donate your old clothing and unused household items. That ugly Hawaiian shirt, those jeans that don't fit anymore, that extra toaster sitting in the cabinet, and so on, can really make a difference to those without. Some donation services are so easy it's unbelievable! In fact, tomorrow there is a truck coming by to pick up donations right from my doorstep. They sent me an orange postcard a few weeks ago letting me know when they'd come.... Read more

Did you know that there are massive wind farms in the ocean? Some have been out there for many years (since the 90's) and more are constantly being added. The first U.S. offshore wind farm is currently underway off the coast of Massachusetts in Nantucket Sound (near Cape Cod). There are of course land-based wind farms all over the world too. The concept of using wind to produce electricity is over 120 years old. Scientists first developed basic concepts for what was to become a modern marvel in the late 1800's. The U.S. is currently the leader in wind power generation capacity. One-fifth of all energy generated in Denmark comes from wind power, which is the highest of any country. Modern wind farms and wind-produced energy have been growing rapidly since the late 70's and are continuing to accelerate. Could... Read more

Do you know they exist? I didn't, until I met the family at our favorite Dallas area pub, The Londoner and wanted to take the uneaten Tikka Masala home with me for a midnight snack. The packaging looked different and eco-ish, and on further inspection I realized it was completely biodegradable. As one who really loves to-go food, it made me feel better about doing it. Most to-go boxes are Styrofoam, they stay around forever, and make an adverse impact on the environment. This to-go box, however, is not only saving me money in midnight munchieville, but is making a difference in the amount of non-degradable garbage. Restaurant owners take note! You can be part of protecting a great environment even with to-go boxes...just use the bio-degradable version. Here are some suppliers: Mr. Take Out Bags VegWare BioDegradable Store.com, Why... Read more

It's the hottest summer on record, and some are feeling it more than others. Moscow is on fire, the foliage in Arkansas is changing into fall colors too early, roads are buckling in several cities, and electricity usage is at an all-time high. While you can't give up the AC when it's this hot outside, there are things that you can do to lessen your contribution to heat pollution this summer. 1. Use public transportation or carpool: Most of the larger metro areas have great public transportation systems that not only make it less expensive to commute, it lessens the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air and damage to the environment. Plus, it gives you time to read a few chapters from a book, do a crossword, or just zone out and not worry about other drivers, so... Read more