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Rethinking Our Stuff: Moving Toward a Circular Economy

Sep 30, 2019

The “circular economy” is all about rethinking the way we make stuff—designing products that can be reused and powering it all with renewable energy.

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Sustainable Scrubbing: Tips for Toxin-Free House Cleaning

Aug 30, 2019

Safe and effective non-toxic, green cleaning solutions using natural ingredients that are good for our health and the planet.

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The Re-Use Revolution: Plastics Peril Drives New Strategies

Aug 30, 2019

The growing plastics crisis has inspired companies to shift away from single-use containers to ones that are reusable with a deposit.

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Eco-Camping: Keeping It Earth-Friendly

Aug 15, 2019

We can minimize our impact on nature while still enjoying it by using such strategies as buying tents made of recycled materials, forgoing single-use plastics, and packing our trash out instead of burning it.

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Floating Solar: Catching Some Rays on the Water

Aug 15, 2019

Installing floating solar panels on only a quarter of U.S. manmade reservoirs could generate about 10 percent of national energy needs.

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Bagging It: New York State Bans Plastic Bags

Aug 15, 2019

The use of plastic bags in the Empire State—23 billion a year that mostly end up in landfills and waterways—will become illegal in March.

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Beyond Sustainability: Regenerative Agriculture Takes Aim at Climate Change

Aug 15, 2019 ● By Yvette C. Hammett

Farmers are increasingly exploring inexpensive organic methods to return microbial diversity to the soil, which could help mitigate a warming planet by allowing soil to absorb more carbon.

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Help For Home Gardeners: Extension Agents at Your Service

Jun 28, 2019 ● By Yvette C. Hammett

Nationwide, local extension agents offer soil testing and instruction in organic methods, making rain barrels, choosing native plants and a host of low-cost and no-cost services.

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Eco-Friendly Outdoor Eating: Save Resources, Reduce Food Waste and More

Jun 28, 2019

It’s eco-wise to fill our picnic basket with bamboo utensils, plant-based bug repellents, sustainable fish and glass containers.

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Crops in the City: Urban Agriculture Breaks New Ground

Jun 28, 2019 ● By April Thompson

Entrepreneurial innovators are tapping into new technologies and markets to grow fresh, healthy food within cities, turning so-called ‘mean streets’ into ‘green streets.’

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Wonder Weed: Hemp to the Rescue at Detox Sites

Jun 28, 2019

Hemp, the no-buzz industrial variety of cannabis, is cleaning nuclear radiation, cadmium, lead and mercury from toxic sites.

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Sunny Solution: Wastewater Turned into Hydrogen Fuel

Jun 28, 2019

A Princeton University team has designed a device that uses sunlight to pull hydrogen from industrial wastewater, which could allow factories to simultaneously treat wastewater and generate fuel.

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Green Surfing: Search Engine Company Plants Trees

Jun 04, 2019

Ecosia, a German Internet search engine, has planted more than 52 million trees in the last 10 years by diverting its advertising revenue to funding new trees worldwide.

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Aqua Breakthrough: Clean Water Solution in the Pipeline

Jun 04, 2019

Chinese scientists have used ultraviolet light and graphitic carbon nitride to purify two and a half gallons of water in one hour.

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Revamping Recycling: China Forces U.S. Cities to Change Specs

Jun 04, 2019

China, a major importer of recycled waste, is rejecting shipments contaminated by greasy pizza boxes, polyethylene-lined disposable coffee cups, and plastics like yogurt cups and butter tubs.

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Mold Matters: Kill It Naturally

Jun 04, 2019

Toxic mold caused by heavy rains, leaky pipes, and high humidity can be removed with natural products like vinegar and tea tree oil, but extensive mold growth is best remediated by professionals using “green” cleaning methods.

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Norwegian Nudge: Countries Learn from Recycling Strategy

May 31, 2019

Norway recycles a whopping 97 percent of its plastic bottles by making bottle deposit returns simpler, and rewarding participating companies with lower taxes.

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Pre-Wired for the Future: Transportation Drives Urban Planning

May 31, 2019 ● By Jim Motavalli

Imagine, if you can, pedestrian- and transit-friendly cities with new homes pre-wired for electric vehicles and office buildings planned without parking spaces. It’s already happening.

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Plants Talk: Discover Their Secret Language

Apr 30, 2019 ● By April Thompson

Plants may not be raising an audible ruckus, but scientists are finding they communicate silently with each other through smells, hearing and underground networks.

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Skip the Slip: Digital Receipts Gain Momentum

Apr 30, 2019

Proposed legislation in California would mandate digital receipts as a way to lower the carbon footprint and endocrine-disrupting effects of paper receipts.

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Beyond Green Burial: Human Composting at the End of Life

Apr 30, 2019

It is now legal to compost human remains in the State of Washington, a pioneering process that can lower the carbon footprint of cremation and casket burial.

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Healthier Dry Cleaning: Non-Toxic Ways to Lower Risks

Mar 29, 2019

To avoid the hazardous chemicals of conventional dry cleaning, consumers can opt for “green” cleaners that use such processes as liquid silicone, “wet cleaning” with non-toxic agents and liquid carbon dioxide.

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Power Switch: Taking a Home Off the Grid

Mar 29, 2019 ● By Jim Motavalli

Costs are down, technology is up and tax credits are up for grabs. There’s never been a better time to declare energy independence and explore solar, wind and geothermal options.

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Native Intelligence: Planting an Eco-Friendly Yard

Mar 29, 2019 ● By Avery Mack

Native plants need less water, fewer chemicals and live longer than exotics and cultivars, supporting birds, bees, butterflies, wildlife and a healthy ecosystem.

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Saving a Drop to Drink: Our Role in the Coming Water Crisis

Mar 04, 2019 ● By Jim Motavalli

Fresh water supplies are dwindling globally, including in the U.S., yet we can do things on a personal level to help hold onto this finite resource.

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Eco Fill-up: Liquid Fuel Stores Solar Energy

Feb 28, 2019

Swedish scientists are developing a liquid molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen that when exposed to sunlight, converts into a new isomer that theoretically can be released later to heat a household.

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Techno Timber: Artificial Wood Resists Fire and Water

Feb 28, 2019

A new, lightweight synthetic wood made of polymer resin and chitosan, a sugar polymer derived from the shells of shrimp and crabs, can withstand fire and water damage.

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Spring Decluttering: Many Benefits of Reorganizing

Feb 28, 2019

Getting rid of the old can by done step by step, opening up space not only in our closets but in our psyches.

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Changing Landscapes: Climate Change Documentary Seeks Consensus

Jan 31, 2019

National Geographic Documentary Films, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and RadicalMedia, has released the new film Paris to Pit...

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Tips for a Tree-Free Home: Many Ways to Pare Down Paper Use

Jan 31, 2019

By switching to electronic bills, substituting cloth for paper napkins, and supporting tree-planting non-profits, we can help preserve the planet’s forests.

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Investing for Good: How to Align Money With Values

Jan 31, 2019 ● By April Thompson

Socially responsible investing, which accounts for a whopping quarter of U.S. funds under professional management, now offers options to suit every cause and income level.

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Cork Rocks: The Self-Regenerating Building Material

Dec 27, 2018

Cork, which regenerates its bark after harvesting, is an eco-friendly fire retardant and acoustic insulator that also controls odor and humidity.

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Poor Packaging: The Problem With Bottled Water Is the Bottle

Dec 27, 2018

Each minute, one million plastic bottles are sold around the world, and most end up in the trash rather than being recycled.

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Smart Trash: Baltimore Rolls Out Sensor-Equipped Bins

Dec 27, 2018

Solar-powered trash cans with built-in Wi-Fi sensors are being installed in Baltimore to facilitate as-needed emptying of the cans.

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Seeking Sanctuary: How to Reduce Electromagnetic Radiation at Home

Dec 27, 2018 ● By Emily Courtney

As technology brings increasing exposure to EMFs, we can take practical steps to reduce the risk of these ubiquitous waves inside our homes.

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Eco Jets: Electric Planes on Horizon

Nov 30, 2018

Europe’s EasyJet airline is working to get electric-powered planes into the sky with room for up to 220 passengers and a range of 335 miles.

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Green Cars Update: Plug Into the Latest Trends

Nov 30, 2018 ● By Jim Motavalli

Plug-in or hybrid or battery electric? Here’s a practical guide to what’s happening with electric vehicles and to which one might suit our needs.

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Earth Christmas: Guide to Sustainable Merry-Making

Nov 30, 2018

Eco-strategies for trees, decorations and gifts mean we can extend our holiday good will to our beleaguered home planet as well.

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Eco-Packaging Progress Report: Innovative Uses of Pulp, Paper and Mushrooms

Oct 31, 2018 ● By Avery Mack

Creative new options include carry-out containers made of wood pulp, baked-goods wrapping paper infused with antibacterial spices, and cardboard made of mushroom roots.

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Dumping Disincentive: Big Bank Acts to Protect Oceans from Mine Waste

Oct 31, 2018

Under pressure from the Ditch Ocean Dumping campaign, Citigroup is no longer financing mining projects that dump mine waste into the ocean.

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Teeny Town: Tiny Houses Can Benefit Seniors

Oct 31, 2018

By designing and building a $75,000 tiny modular home, the University of Southern Indiana wants to demonstrate how independent living can be made accessible for people of many ages and abilities.

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Breathe Easier: Hamburg Gets Serious About Diesel Fumes

Oct 31, 2018

Germany’s second-largest city is restricting diesel-powered vehicle from portions of two major streets, with exemptions for new, cleaner models.

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Plastic Pushback: Countries Ban Single-Use Plastics

Oct 31, 2018

The Bahamas is joining such countries as Antigua, Belize, Kenya and the United Kingdom in moving to ban plastics linked to marine litter.

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Rebirthing Books: New Life for Old Friends

Oct 31, 2018

Rather than letting books collect dust at home, we can donate them to local, national and international efforts that redistribute them to readers and underfunded libraries worldwide.

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Corporate Conscience: Leading Food Companies Aim to Slash Energy Footprints

Sep 28, 2018

McDonald’s plans to lower its greenhouse gas emissions by 165 million tons in 12 years, and Anheuser-Busch and Budweiser beer plans to wholly rely on renewable sources for energy in seven years.

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Debris Drop-Off: Plastic Bag Deterrents Working in European Waters

Sep 28, 2018

The number of plastic bags in waters around Norway, Germany, northern France and Ireland has dropped by 30 percent following those countries setting fees on bags.

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Last Straw: Groups Work to Make U.S. Go Strawless

Sep 28, 2018

To end the pollution caused by 500 million discarded plastic straws daily in the U.S., eateries are forgoing them, cities are banning them, and groups are selling bamboo and silicone replacements.

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The Rise of Blue Zones in America: Places that Encourage Healthy Living

Sep 28, 2018 ● By Avery Mack

Blue Zone cities nationwide are making life for their citizens longer and better by encouraging healthy eating, regular exercise and activities that further connection.

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Zero Waste Lifestyle: Ways to Make Far Less Trash

Aug 31, 2018 ● By Avery Mack

Light-years beyond the idea of basic decluttering is the concept of zero waste, which means adopting everyday strategies like halting junk mail and adopting gently used, pre-loved items in order to live lightly on the planet.

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Sunny Success: New Solar Capacity Outpaced Other Fuel Sources

Aug 31, 2018

Investors worldwide invested more in solar power than in any other single energy technology in 2017.

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Flower Power: Farms Test Low-Tech Pesticide Alternative

Aug 31, 2018

British farmers are planting wildflowers to understand if the presence of pest-eating insects can make their use of pesticide a last rather than first resort.

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After Plastic: New Eco-Packaging Options Underway

Aug 31, 2018

As leading industries turn their attention to adopt sustainable principles, engineers and inventors are developing product packaging bioplastics that readily degrade.

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Green Shoes: Being Sustainable Down to Our Soles

Aug 31, 2018

Living an eco-lifestyle extends to the shoes on our feet, with strategies that include better maintenance, eco-friendly materials and sustainability-savvy shoemakers.

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Plog On: Picking Up Litter While Jogging Becomes a Winning Trend

Jul 31, 2018

Plogging, Sweden’s latest fitness craze, is catching on in Europe and the U.S., as joggers not only clean up trash but also burn more calories in the process.

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Hyperloop Hyper-Speed: Innovative Shortcut to Faster Travel

Jul 31, 2018

Plans are underway in Europe for a vacuum-tube mode of transport capable of zooming people and freight safely overland at 700 miles per hour.

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Rethinking Toiletries: Using Less Saves Both Money and the Planet

Jul 31, 2018

It’s easy to load up on pricey personal care products that ultimately get little use, but a few key strategies can simplify daily life as well lower expenses and waste.

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Waste No Water: Communities Get Creative in Urging Conservation

Jul 31, 2018 ● By April Thompson

As potable water gets scarcer worldwide, American communities are creatively exploring ways to encourage people to be always water wise.

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Art that Inspires Action: Artists Work to Save Nature’s Beauty

Jun 29, 2018 ● By Avery Mack

By using marine debris, steel, twigs and even snow, artists are incorporating the natural world into their work while simultaneously sending out an SOS from the planet.

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Meat Menace: Animal Product Emissions Rival Oil

Jun 29, 2018

New data shows that emissions from raising farmed animals make up about 15 percent of global human-induced emissions, with three large meat producers emitting as much as some oil companies.

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Loving It: Fast Food Giants Finally Address Plastic Pollution

Jun 29, 2018

McDonald’s says it will end the use of harmful polystyrene foam packaging globally by year’s end, and Dunkin’ Donuts is phasing out its polystyrene foam cups in favor of paper cups.

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Natural Pools: Swim Amidst Stones and Plants

Jun 29, 2018

Natural pools, which may be built of stone and clay and filtered with aquatic plants, turn out to be both eco-friendly and price competitive compared to conventional swimming pools.

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We Need Clean Waters: Streams and Rivers Are Life Links

May 31, 2018 ● By Avery Mack

Efforts are underway around the country to make polluted waterways clean again and to instill local appreciation for their many helpful roles.

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Livable Communities We Love: Good for People and the Planet

May 31, 2018 ● By John D. Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist

Across the country, cities from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh to Portland are finding fresh new ways to create engaging street life for residents while eco-upgrading their green spaces, services and infrastructure.

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Quick Quarters: Simple Eco-Houses on the Upswing

May 31, 2018

Harnessing technology and cleverness, homebuilding startups in the Ukraine, Italy and Lebanon are offering tiny, energy-neutral, quick-built houses at low cost.

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Boston Ban: Plastic Bags Get the Boot

May 31, 2018

Joining a nationwide movement, Boston has banned single-use plastic shopping bags, requiring shoppers to bring their own totes or pay for eco-friendly bags.

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Eco-Upgrades for America’s Landmarks: Monuments and Parks Adopt Sustainable Practices

Apr 30, 2018 ● By Avery Mack

From the Grand Canyon to the Gateway Arch to the Empire State Building, America’s landmarks are making the old new again with Earth-friendly changes.

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Obsolete Packaging: Grocer Shuns Plastic Trays

Apr 30, 2018

A British supermarket chain plans to drastically lower its use of plastic packaging in 1,000 of its own-label products.

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Recycling IQ: Take a Quiz to Help the Planet

Apr 30, 2018

Is this item trash, garbage or recyclable? As important as recycling is, it can sometimes be confusing. A short quiz offers answers to help sort out discards.

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Healthy Climate, Healthy People: Why a Warming Planet is Harming Our Health

Mar 30, 2018 ● By Lisa Marshall

As the Earth slowly heats up, we’re being affected by rising allergens, disaster-related trauma and the increase in insects carrying dangerous diseases.

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Distributed Power: Energy Users Control Own Supplies

Mar 30, 2018

Across the U.S., energy users of all sizes are taking control of their power supply and relieving stress from the grid.

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Transforming Plastics: Mobile Trashpresso Turns Trash into Tiles

Mar 30, 2018

A British company has invented a solar-powered, onsite mini-recycling plant that transforms plastic waste into usable architectural tiles.

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Healthy House: Easy Ways to Green It Up

Mar 30, 2018 ● By Avery Mack

From using defrosting trays to doffing shoes at the door to placing plants in the loo, easy ways abound to make our home healthier for us and easier on our environment.

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Protective Plants: Indoor Greenery Removes Airborne Toxins

Feb 28, 2018

Houseplants can help purify indoor air quality, which is often contaminated by toxic chemicals in paint, furniture, dry-cleaned clothes, cleaning supplies and other household products.

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Frugal Foodie: Practical Uses for Aging Produce

Feb 28, 2018 ● By Judith Fertig

The average family throws away a quarter of the food it buys, wasting an average of $2,200 a year, but with some simple strategies no scraps need go to waste.

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City Homesteading: Creating Sustainable Urban Living

Feb 15, 2018 ● By Randy Kambic

Across the country, people in communities of all sizes are crafting ways to grow food, build eco-homes and live in harmony with the environment and each other.

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Auto Revolution: Industry Revs Up for Electric Car Future

Jan 31, 2018

Thanks to environmental concerns and technology advances, cars with internal combustion engine are yielding to electric vehicles around the globe.

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Bottle Buyback: Britain May Charge Deposit to Reduce Bottle Litter

Jan 31, 2018

To increase recycling and reduce trash, Britain is considering charging a deposit fee for plastic bottles, an approach that worked in Denmark and South Australia.

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Yes to Yarn: Popular Needlework Crafts Go Green

Jan 31, 2018

By making and dying their own yarn, buying organic fibers and knitting for people in need, crafts people are making yarn arts more eco-friendly and fun.

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Eco Pesticide: Safer Product Controls Citrus Pests

Dec 29, 2017

A new aerosol pheromone biopesticide interrupts the mating cycle of an insect that invades citrus groves without killing the insect or harming other pollinators.

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Recycling Crusade: San Francisco Moves Toward Zero Waste

Dec 29, 2017

Recycling efforts are being expanded and technologically updated in cities that include San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

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Recreate Comfort: Secrets to Better Furniture

Dec 29, 2017

Bringing eco-awareness to furniture can mean everything from buying something that’s vintage or made from sustainably harvested sources to DIY reupholstering with fabric remnants.

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Kick the Plastic Habit: Choose Earth-Friendly Alternatives

Dec 29, 2017 ● By Avery Mack

With the oceans predicted to contain more plastic than fish by 2050, we can join vital efforts underway at personal, local and global levels to reduce plastic use.

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Erase E-Waste: Regift or Recycle Smart Phones

Nov 30, 2017

Instead of trashing or trading in old smartphones and other electronics, you can donate them to worthy causes that either give them away or recycle them.

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Go Eco Like Grandma: Honor Her Wisdom in New Ways

Nov 30, 2017 ● By Avery Mack

People are devising tech-savvy strategies to give new life to our grandmothers’ dictum “Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.”

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Pumped Up About Geothermal: Homeowners Like its Eco-Friendly Cost Savings

Nov 02, 2017 ● By Jim Motavalli

People are finding that geothermal pumps, which draw on the below-ground temperature of 50 degrees to heat and cool buildings, make sense environmentally and economically.

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Pedestrian Power: Smart Street Lights Powered by Footsteps

Oct 31, 2017

Las Vegas has arranged to install some streetlights that will be powered by pedestrians walking on kinetic energy pads on the sidewalk.

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Getting Greener: Renewables Hit High Mark in UK

Oct 31, 2017

Wind, solar, hydro and wood pellet burning generated 50.7 percent of the United Kingdom’s electricity on June 7, a significant marker of in use of renewable energy sources.

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Creating Community: 15 Ways to Craft a Circle of Caring

Sep 29, 2017 ● By Linda Buzzell

With simple, clear steps and procedures, we can build bonds with our neighbors to create a better tomorrow together.

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Eco Sneakers: Biodegradable Reeboks Help Solve Waste Problem

Sep 29, 2017

With a compostable sneaker made of cotton and corn, Reebok is moving to reduce the negative impact of shoes on the environment.

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Resource Saver: Innovative Building Material Trumps Concrete

Sep 29, 2017

Building biodegradable bricks built with sand and bacteria depositing chemicals similar to the way coral grows is proving to be more energy efficient than cement manufacturing.

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Mold Gold: Decaying Autumn Leaves Feed Summer Gardens

Sep 29, 2017

Instead of burning fallen tree leaves or carting them to the landfill, we can use them as mulch to enrich the soil and discourage pests.

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Milkweed Mittens: Common Weed Is Lightweight Insulator

Aug 31, 2017

Milkweed pods, which are five times lighter than synthetic insulation, are being tested by the Canadian Coast Guard as filler in prototype parkas, gloves and mittens.

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Easy Mark: Lasers Stamp Prices on European Produce

Aug 31, 2017

European supermarkets are cutting costs and saving energy by using high-tech lasers to mark prices on avocados, sweet potatoes and coconuts, with more to come.

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Solar Heats Up: Demand Surges as Prices Fall

Aug 31, 2017 ● By Jim Motavalli

Rapidly improving technology and sharply declining prices are making solar energy an ever more attractive option for homeowners.

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Help for Injured Wildlife: Caring Rehab Gives Them a Second Chance

Jul 31, 2017 ● By Sandra Murphy

Wildlife rehabilitation centers across the country are providing help to lost, injured or orphaned animals in need of care.

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Healthy Eye-Catching Eco-Wear: It’s in Style and Easy Care

Jun 30, 2017 ● By Avery Mack

Wrinkled cotton T-shirts used to define planet-friendly clothing, but today’s fashion designers are producing distinctive eco-lines that feel good and look great.

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Autonomous Autos: Driverless Cars Promise Safety and Savings

May 31, 2017

Within seven years, driverless cars will be hitting the market, and studies project they will eventually slash driving-related deaths by two-thirds and lower fuel use by 20 percent.

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Prohibiting Plastic: Banning Bags Is Making a Difference

May 31, 2017

From Tasmania to San Francisco to Morocco, governments are moving against pollution and trash by banning plastic shopping bags, water bottles and even microbeads.

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Green Car Buying Tips: Fuel Economy Plus Sales Incentives Equal Big Savings

May 31, 2017 ● By Jim Motavalli

To move stock and meet environmental goals, carmakers are offering great deals on eco-friendly cars; substantial subsidies and tax write-offs further sweeten the deal.

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Cycling Chicago: Pioneering Bike Paths Promise Easy Commutes

Apr 28, 2017

With 100 miles of new bike lanes already, Chicago is now moving to build floating, solar-powered paths along the Chicago River to create an auto-free commute.

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