As part of an overall energy conservation initiative for Rockefeller Center, Tishman Speyer installed 363 GE solar panels on the roof of 45 Rockefeller Plaza to help reduce the building's electricity consumption. The solar energy roof, which will be the largest privately owned solar energy generation station in Manhattan, will conserve energy during peak usage times year-round and help power the tree's new energy-efficient LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights.

The solar panels will create a 70 kilowatt DC generation station that is tied to the Rockefeller Center grid and will help reduce the building's electricity consumption. The solar installation will also keep approximately 67,392 lbs. of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere each year and more than 2,000,000 lbs. over its 30-year lifespan. The tree's 30,000 LEDs, on five miles of wire, will draw a fraction of the power that is traditionally required by the tree, reducing energy consumption from 3,510 kilowatt hours to 1,297 kilowatt hours per day, saving as much energy as a single family would use in a month in a 2,000 square foot home. The new solar energy roof will generate more electricity in its first year than the tree lights will consume over the 42 days they will be illuminated.

Also for the first time this year, the tree was cut with a handheld saw to reduce energy use. Tishman Speyer is replanting/re-greening the land where the tree came from and recycling all appropriate materials used during the cutting event. Upon completion of the holiday season, the tree will be milled and treated and made into lumber to be used by Habitat for Humanity.

NBC's broadcast of the Christmas in Rockefeller Center special was co-hosted by Today's Al Roker and recording artists Nick Lachey and Ashley Tisdale. Musical artists Natasha Bedingfield, Tony Bennett, Celine Dion and Josh Groban, among others, performed current hits and holiday classics.

NBC Universal

By Heather Stephenson, IdealBite.com

Who knew that we were all at such risk of constant dehydration? Read enough magazines or watch enough commercials, and sooner or later, you'll be convinced that your body is in severe need of hydration, electrolytically imbalanced and far from its peak performance.

Oh puhlease. When I grew up, kids playing sports drank... well, water. And that water? It came from a tap, not a plastic bottle with a label.

But if I bought the idea that electrolytic sports drinks were critical to my health (and trust me, as a girl who occasionally imbibes too much of a different kind of liquid, there is something miraculous about those blue sports drinks as a hangover cure), you can bet I'd be reaching for some coconut water instead. Natural coconut water - the "juice" inside a coconut when you split it open - offers the same electrolytes and potassium as conventional sports drinks, but with fewer calories and none of the artificial additives. I was a complete skeptic until I tried it.

I promise - it's good stuff. Who knows? I might even start running (without anyone chasing me) if it means I'll be in desperate "need" of some hydrating coconut fluids...

-Heather Stephenson, Co-Founder, Ideal Bite

By Zem Joaquin, ecofabulous.com

'Tis the season to get informed. When shopping for papers there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, regarding recycled content - always check out the percentage: a label that reads "30% recycled, 20% post-consumer waste" means 70% virgin wood cut down from forests, 20% post-consumer waste and 10% post-industrial waste - a little play on words to make you think they're more eco than they actually are (look for 100%, if possible). Processed Chlorine Free (PCF) paper is also key. Paper mills that use chlorine for bleaching produce chlorinated organic compounds such as highly toxic dioxins which cause a host of health and environmental problems.

Next you want to consider the dyes being used. Conventional dyes that are petroleum-based emit harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. Look for vegetable-based dyes, such as soy that has been found to emit 82% less VOCs. They are also considerably easier to remove from paper during the de-inking phase of recycling.

Other things to look for are the sustainable practices a company engages in (hopefully): like where do they get their power? Do they practice fair trade? Do they buy their materials locally? At the end of the day, though, we want paper products that we love, that are simply beautiful.

One company to check out is Fish Lips Paper Designs. Made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper that is Processed Chlorine Free and printed entirely with soy inks (they also use Green-e certified wind power) their high-quality wrapping papers don't skimp on cool at all. The "one love" is perfect for pets and what gent wouldn't love a gift wrapped in the "dirty martini" paper?

Their holiday line can also help green a notoriously wasteful time of year; "don't be a flake" is great for Christmas and Hanukkah alike, but I'm not so sure about Kwanzaa. Of course you could try my favorite technique - cut out pages of magazines that are befitting of the recipient. My super-stylish sister gets fashion magazine picks, while my dad gets old golf images. Use whatever you have or ask a friend their old books.

Zem Joaquin
ecofabulous.com

By Peter Pachal, SCIFI.com

We all know we should use less power, recycle more and take shorter showers, but few people really live as efficiently as they can. What might help is a visual reminder that's ever-present, constantly reminding us of the impact we're having on the environment, and how much we can do better.

Enter the EnergyTree. A concept proposed by designer Ben Arent, the tree is like any houseplant, except you never need to water it. Its container does that for you, though the amount of water and nutrients the tree gets depends on how energy-efficient you are. Turn down your heat at night and the Tree will be strong and healthy; leave your Xbox on when you're not playing and those branches might start to look bare. How would this all work exactly? More pics and info below.

Exactly how the EnergyTree would monitor your energy consumption is a little hazy, though from Arent's description, it would involve connecting devices via control ports (so the tree could turn off gear not in use) and weighing the content of recycling bins. Sounds like a custom installer might be involved. Of course, there's the obligatory Internet connection, too, which would let you score "green points" online and boast to the world about how green you are. 'Cause that's what it's really all about, isn't it?

Peter Pachal
SCIFI.com

By Lisa Blau, VitalJuiceDaily.com

When it comes to holiday gift giving, there's a shade of green for everyone on your list. Here are some suggestions for giving environmentally responsible gifts that your friends, family and planet will thank you for:

When heading to those holiday parties grab a bottle of ecohol to take for the host or hostess. Square One Vodka is made with 100% organic North Dakota rye and comes in a non-frosted glass bottle (frosted glass uses lots of chemicals) with a bamboo label that peels off so the bottle can be reused as a vase. Toss in a bottle of organic fruit mixer from Modmix in delicious flavors like Citrus Margarita or Pomegranate Cosmo to really get the party started.

For Mom, why not treat her to some organic pampering. Body oil from Origins Organics makes for a relaxing bath or massage - and she'll feel good knowing that their sustainable packaging has preserved some 1,500 trees and counting. She might also like to indulge in Pangea Organic's new mask (it's packed with antioxidant rich Acai and Goji Berry!). Even better? She can plant the packaging and watch herbs sprout for future use.

If your Dad is always grumbling about the many bills he gets in the mail, why not do him a favor and thin out his mail entirely? Sign him up for Green Dimes and they'll not only reduce his junk mail by 90%, they'll also plant 10 trees in his honor. Just think, if everyone in the U.S. did this we'd spare 100 million trees each year.

We're sure your fashion-forward sister will love anything from Under the Canopy - the first brand in "EcoFashion" makes one of the softest robes on the planet in 100% organic cotton. If she prefers to make more of a statement, give her a "Think Green" t-shirt from Zooey (also popular with the always-statement-making young Hollywood set).

For your tech-obsessed brother, give a solar powered charger to juice all of his portable gadgets. The Solio charges at the same rate as if it's plugged into the wall, and when fully powered can charge his cell phone at least twice.

Everyone in the family should get their stocking stuffed with a Sigg - beautifully designed reusable water bottles that are cool enough to carry with you always.

And there's no better way to say thank you, then sending a thank you note - but email it on personalized e-stationery (check out the selection from Iomoi.com).

If you're still looking for green gift giving inspiration peruse these sites: Earth Moment stocks everything from jewelry to TV's and they donate a piece of the revenue from every product to CarbonFund.org; Great Green Goods is a shopping blog dedicated to all gifts eco-friendly; and 1% for the Planet will help you find retailers that donate 1% of their sales to environmental organizations.

Have other green gift giving ideas? I'd love to hear about them.

Lisa Blau
Editor, Vital Juice Daily

By Jimmy Wong, amoswong.com

In recent news, the Nordic nations (Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland) via a joint statement have raised the alarm over the melting Arctic. They are worried that this phenomenon will have irreversible consequences, threatening livelihood and doubling the rate of ice melt.

United Nations (UN) has put the blame on burning fossil fuel for this melt. While the nations and head of states work on their protocols and what needs to be done, I have already start practicing “environmental-friendly” life whenever and wherever possible. How? Read on for some of my many ways.

Many of us own a car; the more fortunate ones own more than one. A huge majority of our cars run on fossil fuel; the remaining minority operates on biofuel, natural gas, liquid petroleum gas, hydrogen and electricity. My car runs on fossil fuel because I cannot afford Honda's new hydrogen car. I drive my car everyday and each minute I burn fossil fuel and contribute to the overall rise in global temperature, although in a minute way.

What I practice are ways to reduce the burning of fossil fuel and at the same time, saving me money against the rising global fossil fuel price. As you may know, Malaysia is right smack in the tropical region and hence is a very hot place. Using the car’s air conditioning consumes about 20% extra fuel. For me, whenever my car is cooled down, I turn off the air conditioning. Call me crazy, call me a fool, but switching off air-conditioning whenever you don’t need it saves fuel, saves money and saves the environment. Fixing heat reflecting films helps a great deal.

I have already changed the way I drive, from being heavy footed to very light. I seldom accelerate more than what is required, using momentum to help push the car, thereby reducing fuel consumption. I also reduce the need to hard brake by looking further ahead, decelerate much earlier on whenever I see traffic ahead.

These simple methods have helped me reduce my fuel consumption by some 15%; at the same time, reducing the emission by the same margin. Can you imagine if 20 million Malaysians reduce 15% emission? Malaysia will have a very blue sky.

Jimmy Wong
amoswong.com

By Heather Stephenson, IdealBite.com

In a move that apparently makes me horrifically old-fashioned (if the comments of my peers are any indication), I admit to being quite attached to cleaning my counters with actual dishcloths. If I spill something and it's a bigger job than a cloth can handle, I grab an old tea towel and soak it up. Everything tosses into the washer. To me, this makes perfect sense.

But for whatever reason, it seems like most people I know use some version of a freakin' baby wipe to sweep down their counters. You know the ones - anti-bacterial disposable wipes - one swipe and a toss. And god forbid a glass of wine upends on the counter or kitchen floor... out come the paper towels - a whole roll in the service of mopping up something that could just as easily have been sucked into washable, reusable towel.

When did we become such creepy germophobes? Has anyone ever seen any studies that show that the kids of parents who use bleach-infused wipes instead of a dishcloth (maybe even a cloth that's a day past its prime and might need to head to the laundry) have fewer bouts of sickness than those who use a dishcloth? (This isn't rhetorical - if you know of a study, let me know... I've never found one.) Is it really more convenient to go to the store, buy a plastic package of countertop-babywipes, find said wipes under the sink, rip out seven or eight, clean, and ultimately recycle the plastic package, than it is to wash and fold a few cloths and towels?

Really?

Heather Stephenson
Co-Founder, Ideal Bite

By Christian Martin, iVillage.com

I'd always been a little conflicted about Global Warming. Intellectually I knew it was a bad thing, I'd watched Al Gore's documentary and was suitably scared and like everyone else I like Polar Bears and wish them all the best. On the other hand I live in New York City, hate winter and am quite fond of late falls and early springs. Not very PC? You bet but until now I felt okay about it; I take the subway to work, separate my paper and plastic and when I have a few extra dollars in my pocket I buy one of those swirly fluorescent light bulbs. I figured I was doing my part.

Then I had kids, two of them.

Now when I fly across country and look down and see subdivisions spreading like fungus across what was farmland only a few years ago I get upset. When I read that we are running out of water in the Southwest and the Southeast because we have built and built without any concern for the future but only with the idea of how many houses we can cram onto a single acre I get more upset. When I am forced to hug the shoulder of the road to avoid oncoming SUV's and Hummers driven by a single occupant because - well I can't fathom the reason people would drive a Hummer when gas prices are routinely above three dollars a gallon - I get angry.

So what can I do to secure the planet for my children besides huff and puff as I look out airplane windows and glare at oncoming traffic?

The first thing is to get involved. I routinely let my elected officials know how I feel. This means I e-mail my state assemblymen, my mayor, my congressman, my senators and my president to let them know how I feel about global degradation and what I am in favor of and maybe just as importantly what I am against - a continued over reliance on fossil fuels.

But there is also a lot I do in my everyday existence. I walk my kids to school. It is good for them and me, I save a few bucks on gas, lessen traffic and don't pollute the environment. I have made turning off the lights when you leave the room an absolute mandate in my house (points are added or subtracted for the kids depending on how well they do - redeemable for ice cream on the weekends). I make it a hard fast rule that if we bring something home - a toy or gizmo for dad - something also has to leave the house. It can't go into the garbage out front it needs to make its way to the Salvation Army, Goodwill or our church. I don't use lighter fluid when I start the BBQ and I only buy organic food. I wear a sweater in the winter and preach the benefits of an extra blanket at night. I installed double paned windows and put in low flow toilets. In short I do anything I can think of to leave a smaller carbon footprint.

Why? Because in the last few years my eyes alone have convinced me that something pretty serious is going on (99.9% of all scientists agreeing doesn't hurt either). The idea that the world will be even more difficult place to navigate for my children is unfathomable. I want my kids to be concerned with first loves, great jobs, what to name my grandchildren. I don't want them consumed with global warming, dwindling water supplies, a country that is a single vast suburb, clogged with traffic and few open spaces. I want my children and future generations to know the joy of a snowball fight, an endless view of pristine forest and rivers and streams that are clean enough to drink from and fish from. At the pace we are going that won't happen. So to everyone I say do your part, pitch in and find 5 or 6 ways you can be a little bit more green. It will save you a few bucks, make you feel better about yourself and help save the world.

Christian Martin
iVillage, VP & Executive Producer, Programming, Content & Integration
http://www.iVillage.com

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

With Thanksgiving just days away, I've been musing about this past year and recounting my blessings. High on the list is the fact that Green has certainly busted out all over. This newfound mass awareness of the eco-friendly lifestyle and its importance to us all makes living Green much easier.

Certainly, I'm thankful for my Going Green group that gives me a voice to share my thoughts, and the chance to hear my Green friends on Connect. I'm thankful for the recent launch of GreenIsUniversal.com which gives us Green folk another forum to spread the word. These blessings got me thinking about all the wonderful people I'm connected to now as together we try to make our lives a little Greener.

- Elmer, my raw milk farmer, who courageously battles with the FDA every day and travels to NYC from his organic farm in Pennsylvania so my family can enjoy the benefits of raw dairy.
- Laura Jordan, owner of Ka Nani Essentials, a mother and small business entrepreneur of wonderful, handmade, custom, organic, natural beauty products.
- Local farmers who work with the earth and struggle at times against arcane government regulations to provide organic, nutritious produce to my local grocery store.
- Companies like Dr. Hauschka, Bambu, EO, HERdesign and Pangea Organics who are dedicated to providing superior organic, Green products while advocating and practicing an eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle.
- Rhea Alexander, president and design director of D.I.G.S. , an eco-conscious, quality, home accessories design company who helps me to decorate Green without compromising style.
- Experts like Paul Novack at Green Depot who teaches me how to make my home more Green and provides me with the Green products that keep my living space clean and allergy and toxin free. It's nice not being allergic to my apartment anymore!
- Loyal, inspirational Going Green members like Jenjerdear, Katen2006, Heartsong 2000 and Charming 1223. Keep your comments coming!
- And my husband, Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez, a pioneer in nutritional medicine and the scientific backbone of my Going Green group. His patient advice and expert Green teachings have been a constant and motivating source for my own Green lifestyle.

I'd love to hear about your own "Green Team" - the people and companies who you rely on everyday to make living healthy and eco-friendly possible for all of us.

Mary Beth Gonzalez
iVillage.com
Please join my Going Green group and read my Green Blog

With all the talk of green living in the media, having a green wedding is something many couples are considering. And it's not as difficult to plan as you may think. Here are a few simple ways that you can have an eco-friendly wedding:

• Tell your florist that you only want to use organic and locally grown flowers


• Order your invitations on recycled paper - Oblation Papers offers a beautiful line of invites on recycled cotton handmade paper


• In lieu of traditional wedding favors, make a donation to an environmental charity - The I Do Foundation has a list of a dozen green charities and organizations you can choose from


• Have the caterer and baker create your wedding menu and cake from organic and locally grown ingredients

Visit From "I Will" to "I Do" for more wedding planning tips. Or post your eco-wedding questions on the Eco-Friendly Weddings message board to learn how you can have an eco-chic wedding from our eco-expert.

Anne Chertoff
iVillage, Producer
http://www.ivillage.com

By Leah Zerbe, WCAU Philadelphia

You are what you eat, but if fish is on your fork several times a month, you could be poisoning yourself. Many forms of fish are great for people, there's no doubt about it. But because of several factors, mainly the pollution from coal-generated power facilities that produce energy for many homes, mercury levels are rising inside of our bodies.

In many fish, mercury built up under the scales and shells can cause adverse health problems if eaten by people. Children and women of childbearing age are at an increased risk, according to the government and environmental advocacy groups.

Most fish is lean and full of healthy omega-3 fats, but some species are also laden with mercury, a harmful toxin that can interfere with the central nervous system and brain. The Natural Resources Defense Council, sourcing the Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration, listed fish safe to eat and fish to avoid.

Mercury has been used for making thermometers and thermostats and in some chemical and industrial facilities. The real problem arises once the pollution moves into the air and makes its way into oceans and waterways, building up in the fish people eat, according to NRDC. Once mercury enters a waterway, naturally occurring bacteria absorb it and convert it to a form called methyl mercury," according to information published by NRDC. This transition is particularly significant for humans, who absorb methyl mercury easily and are especially vulnerable to its effects. Mercury then works its way up the food chain as large fish consume contaminated smaller fish. Instead of dissolving or breaking down, mercury accumulates at ever-increasing levels.

Scientists have said that predatory fish such as large tuna, swordfish, shark and mackerel can have mercury concentrations in their bodies that are 10,000 times higher than those of their surrounding habitat.

According to the EPA, if a pregnant mother eats fish contaminated with mercury, it can harm the fetus' growing brain and nervous system, which can affect cognitive thinking, memory, attention, language and other motor and visual spatial skills.

It also affects growing children because they absorb more nutrients as their brains and nervous systems develop.

By far, people ingest the highest amounts of mercury through tuna because it is one of the most popular fish to eat, according to environmental groups.

It is also important for fisherman to check local advisories because some fish are so highly contaminated that they should not even be eaten at all.

Greening Your Way To Mercury Reduction

Eating fish brings mercury into people's bodies, but if you've feasted on lobster and tuna your whole life, don't panic. There are ways to cut mercury contamination inside your body and in the environment.

Restrict Portions Or Don't Eat Fish At All:
Obviously, people who cut fish out of their diets will consume much less mercury than those that eat it. If cutting fish out of the diet isn't an option, people can drop mercury levels inside their bodies by choosing to eat fish with lower levels of the toxin and by eating less of it. Most doctors say it takes several months for levels to drop. Blood tests can detect mercury levels.

Need another reason? Think about how much energy goes into getting crab legs harvested thousands of miles away onto your plate. Ships have to span long distances in dangerous conditions to catch the crabs, return to land, ship them to other parts of the world and make sure they are refrigerated through the entire process.

Many species are also harvested using environmentally destructive methods and are perilously low in numbers, which could affect how some people chose their meals, too.

Heat Your Home With Clean Energy
Remember, one big source of mercury pollution comes from power plants.
Many are not in a financial or geologically feasible position to install solar panels, geothermal heating systems or windmills in their back yards.

Still, there are options. Many power companies, including Peco, offer programs where customers can purchase wind power instead of fossil-fuel-generated heat. You won't have the windmill in your yard, but the company will purchase the same amount of wind power for the power grid.

Stay Informed, Become An Activist
Stay on top of environmental laws and loopholes associated with cutting industrial and power plant emissions.

According to NRDC's Web site:

By law, the Environmental Protection Agency is obligated to require power plants to cut roughly 90 percent of their emissions of mercury and other toxic pollution by 2008. Instead, in March 2005 the agency let polluters off the hook, requiring much smaller reductions and giving electric companies more than two decades to accomplish them. What's more, the agency essentially allowed polluting companies to do nothing for the next 12 years.

The nonprofit organization also said people should ask their grocery stores, fish markets and restaurants to label fish and post warnings about the dangers associated with the fish they sell.

Leah Zerbe
WCAU NBC 10 Philadelphia
http://nbc10.com/goinggreen/14299413/detail.html

By Simran Sethi, NBC News

If everyone lived like me, we'd need another 1 1/2 planets to sustain ourselves.

How do I know? Based on my ecological footprint -- the imprint I make on the world as a result of how I live, act, and consume.

I'm five feet tall, weigh 96 pounds, and my shoe size is 6. But my ecological footprint is 11 acres: an average of the fossil fuels needed to power my life, the water needed to raise my food, & the land needed to absorb my waste.

Lest you think I'm living extravagantly:
- I walk practically everywhere and drive an average of 5 miles per week --
- I eat modest amounts of meat and try to buy local produce --
- And I rent a sweet little apartment in the Heartland.

The average ecological footprint of an American is actually 24 acres, which would require more than 5 planets to sustain.

What makes footprints so big? For me, it's getting on lots of planes & eating a fair amount of processed food. Although I can't forgo my flights, I can make adjustments in other areas of my life to offset that consumption, because when it comes to the environment, size matters. And no matter what they say about big feet, this is a footprint we should all shrink.

To find out how you measure up, take the Ecological Footprint quiz at:
http://www.earthday.net/Footprint/

Simran Sethi
NBC News, Environmental Correspondent
http://www.nbcnews.com

By Rachel Gray, iVillage.com

With the green revolution taking off, there's a serious push for sustainable, eco-friendly resources. Lately, I'm seeing bamboo test the waters of industries where cotton historically reins supreme.

I'm a huge fan of cotton clothing - comfortable, affordable and easy to care for - but because it's a difficult crop to grow, it doesn't have the best rep when it comes to the environment. Tremendous amounts of pesticides and chemicals are needed to produce cotton, which is not only hazardous to the environment, but the people who harvest it. Maybe it is time to look for a more earth-friendly fabric.

Bamboo fiber is a seemingly great alternative. Unlike cotton, it is sustainable and grows at rapid speeds without the use of pesticides. The fiber, created by crushing the woody stalks of the plant, is turned into a soft fabric that is noted for a breatheability ideal for clothing and bedding.

I plan to test run these bamboo sheets from Gaima to see if they're just as smooth and comfortable as my favorite cotton sets. Order yours, or pick up these affordable ones on your next trip to Target, so we can compare notes.

I'd love to hear what you think.

Rachel Gray, Associate Producer
iVillage.com
http://housecalls.ivillage.com/home/

By Nicole Walters, GreenIsUniversal.com

On a particularly hot and muggy day in July, my husband and I went mountain biking with our dog, Zero. Unfortunately, we chose a very foul smelling path riddled with biting flies. So we were especially relieved to get back to our car where we could blast the A/C into our sweaty faces and drink lots of water.

While I was cutting a water bottle into a drinking bowl for Zero and seeing to his hydration, a man on a bike approached the driver side window where my husband was sitting and knocked on it. My husband, being a foreigner and not yet as jaded as I am to the ways of my fellow Americans, opened up the window and said hello. Big mistake.

One quick glance at that this man told me he wore his dedication to being carbon free like a badge of honor: from the road dust coating his padded knee gear, to the rear view mirror that was permanently attached to his glasses, all the way down to his Carbon Free or Die t-shirt. I cringed at the thought of his pending criticism but honestly, I couldn't think of what he could say. Had we not just been enjoying nature on our bikes with our furry friend? Had I not just recycled the water bottle and provided nourishment for another living creature? What more could he want from us?? Over the purr of our idling car, he proceeded to tell us that "Just 10 minutes of idling per day causes 550 pounds of CO2 per year." Even though this was a new bit of green knowledge that I normally would've found useful, I was ticked off at the guy! I just continued to let Zero drink and listened as my husband told him that he liked what he was saying, but that he had absolutely terrible timing. An argument ensued and the biker rode off having done no good but annoy two people who otherwise would have been open to and considerate of his message.

So I did some research on idling and found this really useful site with tons of anti-idling facts and one of the writer's personal experiences with delivering the sometimes sensitive message: www.thehcf.org/antiidlingprimer.html.

So often times we green people have trouble with the delivery of our messages. It's hard to get across a point that you feel so passionate about without sometimes sounding like a nut or becoming frustrated when people don't seem to take you seriously. My one bit of advice to this is to remember that not all of the world is green, or wants to be, but whatever message you do send, make sure it's a positive one.

Nicole Walters
GreenIsUniversal.com

By Trevor Curwin, SCIFI.com

Renewable energy is still just a small part of the of our overall energy use. While it's growing steadily, we're going to need alternatives if we hope to reduce our dependency on oil, and the carbon-dioxide it chugs into the atmosphere when we burn it. Luckily, brainiacs in labs around the world are finding even more efficient ways to produce energy from what's readily available and not buried beneath megatons of earthly crust.

Here's a look at eight different ways you may be tanking up at home and on the road in the near and distant future.

1. Hydrogen
Like the new BMW TV ads say, their still-unavailable Hydrogen 7 is "ready for the world… when the world is ready." But progress on California's "hydrogen highway" hasn't quite hit the numbers supporters hoped it would. Fuel-cell technology has alternately been a darling of Wall Street and Detroit for almost a decade now, but we've yet to see many hydrogen-powered vehicles in the wild. The technology seems like an environmentalist's wet dream (literally), with hydrogen bonding with oxygen to produce power and water — and no greenhouse-gas emissions to speak of. But building a new series of hydrogen power stations hasn't been as easy as once thought, and people still think "Hindenberg" when they think "hydrogen," although it seems to be a safe enough technology that transit authorities uses hundreds of hydrogen-powered buses to move us around urban centers. Still, hydrogen's ultimate downfall may be battery technologies and other clean fuels that could overtake it before it has the chance to get wide adoption.

2. Biofuels
This is a fractious bunch of youngsters, with fraternal twins biodiesel and corn-based ethanol trying to keep its younger sibling — cellulosic ethanol — from hogging the family photos. Enormous amounts of capital have flowed into developing both biodiesel (Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is funding the biggest biodiesel refinery in the country in Washington State) and corn-based ethanol (Sun Microsystems founder and venture capital Vinod Khosla has made big bets in this space). Converting vehicles and power plants to these renewable fuels that act and burn like fossil fuels has certainly made much headway. Heck, you could be burning an ethanol blend in your car right now and not even know it, and installing conversion kits for biodiesel makes putting on new spinning rims look tough.

3. Solar
Solar is probably the sexiest of the renewables, what with its black shiny arrays, tilting half-interested at Old Sol. Between tax breaks to install solar panels and new sleeker technology that makes your neighbors want to say "cool roof, man," solar is beginning to take off. Thin-film technology — allowing you to bend the silicon components into more flexible shapes — and increases in solar-cell efficiency mean you can install solar in the Northeast more viably. And momentum is there among legislators as well. In Colorado, the state has passed a "renewable portfolio standard," meaning that not only do utilities need to produce a great deal of renewable energy in the coming decades or face penalties, but they also have to buy a portion of that renewable energy from its customers with solar roofs.

4. Wind
Windmills have come a long way from Kansas farm country and being Don Quixote's nemesis. Wind power first took off — as did many renewable energy sources — in the late '70s and early '80s with the last spike in the price of oil. But after that it stalled until fairly recently. With many states forcing utilities into renewable energy production, this has spurred great technological advances in wind power, and now wind projects are installed or planned in almost every state. The era of having your own windmill, and going "off the grid," is also back, with personal household models costing under $20,000, assuming you have forgiving neighbors. And efficiencies in technology mean you don't need a hurricane to generate a lot of power. But wind's popularity has also created a bottleneck — estimates are that you'll be waiting longer for a wind turbine (about 18 months) than you will for a black Prius.

5. Batteries
They're not really a fuel, but they're the "universal solvent" to our current rate of use of fossil fuels. Technically, we still burn more dinosaur soup making electricity for buildings than on the road, but all those cars and trucks we sit in use energy in other ways, too. They require gas stations everywhere, and that means yet more trucks to haul three grades of gas and Cinnabons to highway rest stops across the country. But new battery technology will last longer and charge more quickly, making it possible to burn the right fuel in the right place, rather than transporting the wrong fuel all over the place. So maybe as you drive from Seattle to Boston, you'll top up your electric or hybrid car with tidal power in Seattle, wind power in Colorado, cellulosic ethanol in Nebraska, biogasoline in Illinois and biomass to carry you into Boston.

6. Tides
Think about how it feels to have someone chucking a bucket of water in your face, then multiply that by several hundred million, and you get an idea of the energy going untapped around our coastlines every day. Test facilities for harnessing tidal power in Canada's Bay of Fundy have been around since the '70s, and San Francisco will be putting in a high-tech tidal plant at the Golden Gate soon. There are certainly environmental concerns around tidal power, since these projects usually involve some kind of plant at the narrow mouth of a bay or inlet, where the water is moving fastest and most violently, meaning it's not so great for the fish or birds nearby. But the future of ocean power is wave technology, where floating platforms and buoys, dozens of miles offshore, harvest the energy of wave motion. Think of an upside-down yo-yo, except your finger is an anchor at the bottom of the ocean, and the spinning spool floats on the surface. As each wave passes, the yo-yo gets pulled up, and pulls your finger… or a turbine.

7. Garbage
Meet the newest member of the energy family: last year's trash. While incinerators haven't really been widespread since the '60s because of pollution concerns, companies like American Combustion are working on the next generation of burning, like their PyreJet. It combines a long-range supersonic oxygen jet and focused carbon injection — essentially a jet engine — to reduce last night's Dominos, a year's worth of Sports Illustrateds you didn't get a chance to read and that old blow-up doll into valuable energy for everyone. Now there's always an answer to, "Who would want that?" when you're at someone else's house.

8. Nuclear Fusion
Like that kid in eighth grade who tried to be really cool but annoyed everyone, the nuclear industry has been talking a lot lately, telling everyone at recess about how their emissions "carbon-free." True, but wind power doesn't need to go around the lunchroom calling itself "plutonium-239-free," so quit being a punk or I'll be seeing you after school by the monkey bars at Three Mile Island, and don't tell your homeroom teacher. But if the opposite of hate is love, then the opposite of fission is fusion, and while it's not exactly around the corner, it holds out a lot of promise. Yes, it's the energy choice of the Sun itself, but simply put, in fusion, two lighter atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus. In doing so, it releases a few megatons of energy, ideally producing a waste product more benign, though not harmless, compared to its fissile brother. A European test plant managed to produce an output of 16 megawatts of electricity using fusion (about as much as a coal plant), but only for a few seconds. New test facilities are planned, so who knows? The atom may be our pal after all.

Trevor Curwin
SCIFI.com

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

Britney wants more, Paris needs less and everyone wants Jennifer's. Hair tops the list of what women obsess about the most. A great hair day gives us confidence and a little bounce in our step. I mean how often do you hear "I'm having a bad skin day"?

But what price do we pay for gorgeous hair? Does great hair have to be a byproduct of rubbing dangerous chemicals into our scalp that seep through skin and blood, to circulate to every corner of our bodies? If you are a regular reader, you know that nature is on the way to save you and your hairdo.

This review is a bit overdue. After Shampooing with Antifreeze, I realized how critical it is to use natural hair products that don't use sodium lauryl sulfate or other chemical surfactants. This is a manmade substance manufactured from a toxic petroleum derivative, ethylene oxide gas, that believe me is neither ecological nor sustainable. To bring nature back to my hair, I started experimenting and sampling months ago and used 10 different organic and all natural hair products on a random basis, switching brand shampoos, conditioners and hair gels each day. So when I developed a very itchy dry scalp and clogged hair follicles (nasty scalp pimples!) for the first time in my life, I had no idea which product I had reacted adversely to. So it was back to the drawing board with a strict 4 consecutive days of one brand experiment before I switched to another. I learned which ones I must avoid, which ones really worked, and now can say my hair has never looked so shiny and healthy and clean.

After weeks of experiments in my shower laboratory, I have discovered hair products that are 100% natural and 100% gorgeous. And since I like a good lather, I prefer products that still allow me to make my soapy hair soup without sodium lauryl sulfate or other chemicals. I'll confess that I am blessed with pretty great hair - dark brown, shiny, slight wave, normal to oily, shoulder length and overall easy to manage. So I don't have major hair issues except that my hair is sensitive to change. It can lose its shape pretty quickly in a strong wind, after a good head tossing nap or 4 hours in an airplane. So I added these factors to my natural experiment and exposed my hair to the elements and as many naps as possible.

Recommended natural hair products:

• Max Green Alchemy: all pure plant origin products, certified vegan and cruelty-free
  
  • Scalp Rescue Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair gel: shampooed into a great lather, conditioned well to strengthen and shine, gel is alcohol-free without waxy build up; 100% plant derived, chemical-free, paraben-free and this amazing trio cured my itchy dry scalp while proving gentle enough for everyday use; $16 for 8.8 oz; $12 for 8.2 oz. gel
  • Skin Deep score: 0.7!
• Dr. Hauschka: this company practices sustainable, eco-friendly business practices from recyclable and biodegradable packaging to organic and naturally derived ingredients, all free of synthetic fragrances
  • Nasturtium & Lemon shampoo: for normal to oily hair; $13 for 8.4 oz.
  • Apricot & Sea Buckthorn shampoo: for dry to damaged hair; $13 for 8.4 oz.
  • Jojoba & Marsh Mallow Conditioner: $14.50 for 8.4 oz.
  • Skin Deep score: not rated
• Burt's Bees: an earth friendly, natural personal care company making a wide range of natural products formulated to help you maximize your well-being and protect your environment - and to make our busy lives easier, these winners are widely available in health food and drug stores.

  

  • More Moisture Raspberry & Brazil Nut Shampoo: uses coconut and sunflower oils to naturally clean, raspberry extract antioxidants to protect hair from sun and pollution and naturally smell "Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific!"; $8 for 12 oz.
  
  
  • More Moisture Raspberry & Brazil Nut Conditioner: marula and brazil nut oils provide a deep conditioning without product build up; $8 for 12 oz.
  
  
  • Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment: take the time to do this once a week for at least 5 minutes before shampooing, this treatment of avocado and olive oils soothe your scalp and rosemary, almond oil and nettle provide a glossy shine; $9 for 4.34 oz.
  
  
  • Skin Deep score: 1-3

While conducting this experiment, my friend supermodel Carol Alt told me how she has washed her long luscious hair with a flower. Yes. Just flower petals and water. I'm sure that there are many other natural ways to clean your hair. Let us know if you have your own homemade solutions. Our chemical-free ears are open.

Mary Beth Gonzalez
iVillage.com
http://www.ivillage.com/green/

By Simran Sethi, NBC News

In 1970 economist Milton Friedman infamously said, "There is one & only one social responsibility of business - to use its resources. . .to increase its profits." CEOs took that maxim to heart and used it as a reason to focus on the bottom line at any cost.

Today, business is redefining social responsibility. The bottom line is growing into the triple bottom line (addressing the economic, environmental and social impacts of business) and, for many companies the new mantra is: "to do well by doing good," creating value for shareholders and stakeholders - everyone involved with or impacted by a company.

Why does this make good business sense? Because good corporate citizenship builds value and reduces risk. Companies recognize eco-efficiencies like changing light bulbs & reducing packaging are actually saving them money. Efforts to limit pollution don't just help the planet, they reduce a company's risk. And treating people well and paying them fairly isn't just the right thing to do, it increases employee retention.

Companies have expanded the bottom line and their assessments of value not because they're philanthropists but because maximizing stakeholder value does just what Milton Friedman hoped - it increases profits.

Simran Sethi
http://www.nbcnews.com

By Alexis Finc, gURL.com

About two years ago, my parents decided to invest in solar panels. At the time I thought they were joking; sure, they had begun making smaller green changes to the house over the years. Our light bulbs took a few minutes to warm up (fluorescents), the water pressure was always turned down in an effort to conserve, and my dad even built the deck out of recycled tire material. But solar panels? In New Jersey?

Sure enough, one weekend I arrived home for a visit only to be greeted by what looked like a UFO about to launch off our side yard. The solar panels had arrived. And I have to say, I had never seen my parents more excited... EVER. All weekend, my mom and dad hovered around the electrical meter shouting off numbers, like it was the lottery.

Two years after that huge aircraft landed, they are still in love with their solar panels. They even joined a solar panel group to learn more about conserving energy. (Don't get my dad started about wind power!) And my mom claims her next house will be "totally green." Who knows what their motivation is, but I have to admit, I am proud of them... in a totally green way.

Alexis Finc
gURL, Editor/Community Producer
http://gURL.com

By BravoTV.com

We at Bravotv.com love us some instant nostalgia: Remember that coffee we got 10 minutes ago -- that was delicious; Remember when Lindsay Lohan was in rehab? (You can fill that last one with your favorite celebrities.) Play at work or home -- it really never gets old.

Anyway, remember when littering was something people tried not to do? When "litterbug" was an offensive term? We can recall a time when not littering was what it meant to "be Green." But as the concept of "Green" advances, people forget the little things they can do, and used to do. One of our editors has recently noticed an upsurge (OK, she's seen it once or twice) of people throwing things out of their car windows and onto the highway. Who does this anymore? Didn't they go to elementary school and get all the lectures about littering? Sheesh!

We know the 90s are back in a big way -- flannel shirts, anyone? -- but littering?! Come on guys, some things should remain in the past.

Bravo Staff
http://www.bravotv.com/green/

By Jennifer Mirsky, iVillage.com

I am what you could call "green challenged." Or ecologically incorrect. Besides loving the color green and what it stands for (nature, money, the green room), there are times when I think I am one of the worst enemies a tree could encounter. I just consume paper. Computer paper, paper towels, toilet paper, hardbound notebook paper…you get the drift. I'm the early BlackBerry adopter who still felt a need to carry around a Filofax. I'm the student who learns better from words on the page. I'm the creative type they wrote about years ago in The New York Times who clips newspaper articles in the belief that one time, one day, these papers will prove to be the missing link for my future book/documentary/TV series. I also take long showers. And single-handedly keep Poland Spring in business with my individual bottle purchases.

Where am I on The Greencurve? I'm scared to find out.

But the good news is there's hope for me. There are people out there like the Lazy Environmentalist (Author Josh Dorfman) who are showing me how I can be more ecologically correct while still enjoying my current lifestyle. I can take long showers as long as they're water-efficient. My toilet bowl does not in fact need to be flushed with water clean enough to brush my teeth.

I can take baby steps. I've already enacted my promise to no longer let the newspaper into my house - it's all online for me. I can remember to turn the lights off as I leave each room. I had my first victory the other day - I installed a washcloth by the kitchen sink lest I be tempted to use a paper towel. That's one small washcloth for a woman, one giant leap for mankind!

Jennifer Mirsky
iVillage, Vice President, Editorial Programming
http://www.ivillage.com/green/

By Mike Purkey, NBC Sports

There's no question that golf courses all over the world are valuable green spaces, but there are also issues about golf's stewardship of the environment that impact those courses and their surrounding communities.

From water to wildlife, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) is taking a hard look with its membership of more than 21,000 at environmental issues that currently affect golf courses.

The GCSAA is in the middle of a six-year project to survey its members about what they are doing to protect the environment above and beyond what is already in place in their standard practices.

"We are in the third year of the project, and all the surveys will tell us much of what we need to know about where our resources must be committed," said Greg Lyman, the environmental programs director for the GCSAA. "So far, we have completed the first survey that looks not only at the land use component, but at what exists outside the lines -- wildlife habitat and surrounding water.

"The second survey looks at water use and conservation and the third examines nutrient use in our turf. The fourth survey concerns pesticide use, and the fifth looks at energy use and waste management issues. Each survey will be examined independently from the others so we can have a solid understanding as to where we are and give us the clues we need for the future."

A typical golf course, Lyman says, covers about 150 acres of which about two-thirds -- about 100 acres -- are maintained turf. Of that amount only about seven acres -- greens and tees -- are highly maintained. The rest of the grass-covered areas -- fairways and rough -- aren't maintained as closely.

That leaves 50 acres that is non-turf, of which about 11 acres are lakes, streams, ponds or wetlands. "It gives us a good opportunity to identify wildlife habitats and native vegetation that is available and that must co-exist with the rest of the golf course," Lyman said.

Water is the biggest environmental challenge that golf courses will face in the near future. The drought that has affected some parts of the country makes it clearer that water use is critical.

"There are two areas of water use that we are concerned with," Lyman said. "One is the consumptive use of water -- how much we use and how we use it. The other is the quality of water as it flows across the property and moves downstream. We should not expect water quality to diminish at all. It covers a high percentage of the turf and soil surface. It percolates through the soil and traps sediment and other pollutants before leaving the property."

Lyman says that many courses try to utilize storm water for irrigation. Grosbeck Golf Club in Lansing, Michigan, is a city-owned facility, and the city tore up nine holes to redirect all the water runoff from the surrounding streets to the golf course along with a series of constructed wetlands and ponds.

More than 2,000 courses in 26 countries participate in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP). Conducted by the Audubon Society, the program addresses not only wildlife habitat, but many other environmental issues.

In order to participate, existing courses must provide written and photographic documentation of meeting the ACSP environmental management standards in six areas: environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, water conservation, water quality management, chemical use reduction and safety and outreach and education. Member courses are required to submit documentation every two years for re-certification.

The group also has the Audubon Signature Programs, tailored toward new golf courses and other developments to get the Audubon staff involved with the developers to create an environmental friendly facility from construction to ribbon-cutting.

"We asked our courses about their environmental stewardship practices, and more than half the courses completed an average of five environmental improvements," Lyman said. "Those in the Audubon program completed an average of seven environmental improvements."

Golf uses more green space than any other sport, and an overwhelming majority of golfers support programs at their courses.

"Golfers who are engaged in this effort take pride that their sport is doing something proactive and positive for the long-term interest in their communities," Lyman said.

Mike Purkey
http://www.nbcsports.com

By Michael Marano, SCIFI.com

Dune (movie, 1984; miniseries 2000)
Stillsuits. Originally envisioned by Frank Herbert in the novel Dune, these handy, basically wearable hydrospheres for the individual recycle moisture from sweat, exhaled breath and bodily wastes into drinkable water. Worn by the fierce Fremen warriors in the vast arid wastes of Arrakis, the stillsuit prevents the wearer from losing "more than a thimbleful of moisture a day." Possibly useful here on Earth not just in the case of catastrophic expansion of deserts, but in the case of water supplies for entire regions being contaminated. NASA's working on technology now to recycle bodily moisture the same way a stillsuit does, just not in a wearable form.

Blade Runner (1982)
Android pets. Just the high-ticket item to help Homo sapiens deal with mass extinction of other species. Riffing on ideas in Philip K. Dick's source novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, director Ridley Scott presents us with an acid-rain-soaked future in which dead and/or endangered critters have synthetic counterparts in urban areas and homes. Snakes, owls, ostriches are all remade as simulacra. What was a far-out and freaky idea for Dick in the late '60s isn't too unreasonable an extrapolation in a post-Tamagotchi world, in which you can take your pick of robot dogs from Sony's Aibo to Hasbro's iDog.

Screamers (1995)
Radiation-neutralizing smokes. Yet another movie based on a work by Dick, this time his short story "Second Variety." On a nasty, war-ravaged planet, airborne fallout and other radioactive particles are of such high concentration that people stationed there must toke special cigarettes to neutralize the toxins they're breathing. Maybe a riff on the gag in Woody Allen's Sleeper, in which future scientists discover that smoking and fatty foods are good for you? Not likely to get FDA approval soon, as the "medicinal" use of things you smoke gets people's knickers in a twist.

Split Second (1992)
Specialized four-wheel drives. Hey, Rutger Hauer is in a future, damp, rain-soaked dystopia—again! The year is 2008. Global warming has caused the polar ice caps to melt, leading to the flooding of coastal cities like ... London, where this flick is set. Hauer plays a cop patrolling streets submerged under inches of stagnant water in a vehicle with extra-high clearance that looks like a prototype of the Hummer. His police-issue boots look waterproofed, too ... the right accessory for a beat cop who has to slog through a world in which emissions and sea levels have run wild.

Waterworld (1995)
Urine purifier. In a future in which the whole world is flooded by the melting of the icecaps, Kevin Costner, aboard the catamaran that is his home, whizzes in a device that looks like a most excellent bong at the start of what had been the most expensive movie ever made, then drinks his own filtered bladder juice. Guess the icecaps didn't dilute the saline content of the oceans enough. Costner's filter looks like it cost five bucks in parts you'd find at the hardware store. NASA just bought a toilet for the international space station that does the same thing for $19 million.

Michael Marano
SCIFI.com

By Bonnie Optekman, NBC Universal

Once upon a time, in a land far away but not so long ago, I used to love going to the mailbox. What possibilities it held - letters, invitations, surprises. I even liked going through the new catalogues. They came out periodically, not every ten minutes, and actually came from stores I shopped in. I even requested some of them!

Of course, some of the mail went straight into the trash; and fortunately that became a recycle stack. But most of it got read first.

Then along came email. Gradually, the percentage of correspondence of any importance got lower and consisted mostly of bills. Mail lost most of its fun but the worst was yet to come.

Three turning points came for me.

The most brutal was anthrax. While adjusting to this awful story and what effect it might have on people I know, I began to regard every piece of mail as a potential threat - a messenger of illness or worse. I didn't admit this to many people but I took to opening it in the lobby of my building and disposing of the envelopes in the nearest trash bin. I even ripped off the outsides of magazines. I brought up the rest and washed my hands.

Eventually, I calmed down about that - just in time for the numbers of catalogs to go up exponentially. Multiple catalogs from the same stores arriving at two-three per week (with almost the same merchandise) in addition to catalogs with material I'd never look at. I guess this was to compete with online shopping but it had the reverse effect. The sheer volume was overwhelming and who had time to even flip through them all? Let's not forget that the volume of email was going up too. Email at work. Personal email at home. And so, save for a few, the bulk got tossed into the recycle bin. Clearly I was not the only person in the building doing this because I noticed one day that a large bin appeared in the mailbox alcove of the building.

Then a new twist - identity theft. We're told not to leave our name and address out there. So now, instead of tossing, we shred.

Times change and we adjust. Thankfully, one adjustment that has been constant for awhile is recycling. Maybe we can take advantage of email (despite the fact that we get too much of that too) and the internet so there's less to recycle. Check out this article in the New York Times headlined "Deforest Your Mailbox".

By the way, now mail is fun again. Why? Because I bought a really cool shredder! I can put all the solicitation letters - even the thick ones that have that special gift for me with hundreds of stickers with my name and address on them - right in and watch it turn into confetti.

Then it goes into the recycle bin.

Bonnie Optekman
NBC Universal, VP News Technology
GreenIsUniversal.com

By Lindsay Guetschow, StopGlobalWarming.org

The signs are all around us and the debate is over. Global warming is real and it is happening right now. In this looming crisis, we face a grave threat to our national security, our economy and our public health. Yet, in this crisis, we have been granted a momentous opportunity to unite people of different cultures, faiths, and political affiliations behind one common endeavor: to stop global warming!

The exciting (yes, you read it right, I said exciting) thing about this problem is that it can be solved. But it is going to take action by millions of people. Taking action is not about sacrifice. It is about change. All of us living in today’s society are carbon emitters... we use electricity and natural resources in our day-to-day lives. This change that we are talking about requires having a different mindset... a mindful mindset. We all must start thinking about where things come from, how things are made, and where they will end up when we are done with them. If we all started living our lives more efficiently and stopped wasting our resources, we could truly create major change and start to curb global warming. It is not about everyone doing everything; it is about all of us doing something! Start with one thing, tell a friend or family member, and let the trickle effect begin.

So where can you begin today? If you knew that when you pull your Ipod or cell phones off their chargers, but leave the chargers still plugged into the wall, you are still pulling energy, would you make it a habit to pull your chargers? Wasted energy use is 10% of your energy bill. Why not bring your own garment bag to the dry cleaners? Leave it in your car and ask your local cleaners to use the bag instead of all the paper and plastic that dry cleaning typically comes wrapped in. Speaking of paper, (the paper industry is the third largest contributor to global warming) did you know that if every household in America bought recycled napkins instead of virgin fiber napkins, we would save a million trees? Or if every US household replaced one roll of virgin toilet paper with one recycled post-consumer waste roll, 424,000 trees would be left standing? 100 to 150 year old trees are being cut down for our disposable paper products. Trees that absorb carbon dioxide over the course of their lives and release all of that carbon dioxide once they are cut. It doesn’t seem like a big sacrifice to reach for post-consumer paper products at the store instead of the virgin paper products.

Two additional tips that are relatively painless to incorporate into your life revolve around the idea of ditching the plastic. American’s throw away about 100 billion plastic bags a year, and less than 1% of those are recycled. Plastic bags come from petroleum and the manufacturing of just fourteen of those bags uses the same amount of oil it takes a car to drive one mile. Think about how many bags you could potentially accumulate during the course of a day….a few at the grocery store, another two or three shopping at the mall and a few more on the way home carrying your take out dinner. SO not necessary! Keep a few canvas bags in your car for grocery and shopping trips. When purchasing a few small items or picking up takeout, ask yourself if you really need to take a bag? Can you put something in your purse or just carry your items out to your car?

More on the plastic front... reusable water bottles... introduce yourselves! You can buy reusable water bottles at most grocery stores. Pick one up and fill it up with water instead of reaching for an individual bottle of water every time you are thirsty. Most tap water is just as good if not better than bottled water. Americans use 2.5 million plastic water bottles every hour! Very few of those bottles are recycled and will end up in a landfill.

There are hundreds of little actions we can all take in our daily lives to be a part of the solution. Please visit www.stopglobalwarming.org to learn more about what you can do to stop global warming, save energy and keep a few extra dollars in your wallet. While you are there, read the latest articles on global warming and sign up for the Virtual March. Joining the Virtual March is the simplest first step to having your voice counted as someone who is concerned with this issue and demands that our leaders freeze and reduce carbon emissions immediately. I promise you will be in great company. Over 916,000 concerned citizens have joined the Virtual March, including: NRDC, MTV, The St. Louis Rams, Indy Racing, Senator John McCain, Al Gore, Sheryl Crow, Sierra Club, Patagonia, The Blue Man Group, Leonardo DiCaprio, The Weather Channel, Tony Hawk and many, many more!

Remember, this is not about sacrifice. It is about taking the knowledge we have about this urgent issue and choosing to live in a mindful way. As Laurie David, the founder of StopGlobalWarming.org says, “When all is said and done, the solution to global warming is you!”

Lindsay Guetschow
Director of Outreach
http://www.stopglobalwarming.org

By Grist.org

At Grist.org, this is a question that's near and dear to our hearts. After all, computers and their users are our lifeblood.

So what to do when that lifeblood stops a-pumpin'? Thanks to recent end-of-life legislation in Europe and Asia that requires manufacturers to bear responsibility for the products they generate, this issue is gaining attention around the world. Several companies, including Apple, Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM, have takeback programs, and some U.S. states are beginning to experiment with computer recycling too.

Quick -- while your machine's still working, come visit us at Grist.org for more green tips and sign up for one of our free email lists to have green living tips delivered directly to your inbox.

Grist.org
http://www.Grist.org/

By Gloria Campos-Hensley

Last year, in an attempt to continue living a greener life, I bought a push mower. At first, I loved it. Pushing the mower gave me a nice leisurely workout while allowing me to easily and evenly cut my grass without the noise or air pollution that comes with a regular gas mower. Still I must admit I hate having to use my push mower recently.

When the grass is dry and not too long it works great, but recent and frequent rains have softened the soil, made the grass grow quickly and have made it too difficult to cut the grass. Long grass tangles up between the mowers wheels and pushing harder only leaves muddy wheel marks on the lawn. In fear of a Home Owners Association fees I have had little choice, but to borrow my neighbor's 15 year old well maintained and efficient gas lawn mower every now and again.

One ungreen grass cutting day, ashamed for giving up on my push real mower again, I put the gas mower aside and began to sweep up the grass clippings and gathering them up in a bin for my compost pile. My elderly neighbor who let me borrow his lawn mower and lives to the left of my house is always looking for something extra to do on the weekends. So he comes out and begins to help me. He also gives me the grass clippings he had collected from his yard the day before to add to my compost bin. I gladly and gratefully take them.

To the right of my house is my other neighbor. He, like always, comes out with a huge noisy leaf blower and begins to blow away all his grass clippings and leafs. He turns to look at my neighbor and I looking at him as we gather the clippings by broom and hand. As he continues blowing the leafs along I wonder if my neighbor is even aware of all the noise pollution he is creating with his leaf blower, not to mention the air pollution or if he even cares.

Truth be told some of my neighbors think I'm odd for trying to live an environmentally friendly and healthy life. Around these areas there isn't much support or belief to do so. Its considered too much work, too inconvenient, too hippy. Some of my own family members have nicknamed me such things as: "treehugger," "puritan," "weirdo"... well actually "weirdo" has been a nickname for much longer than I have ever been an environmentalist. My point is, when it comes to living green, I'm in much of it alone. At least that's how it feels.

Still I have learned that just changing my way of living can change others. Take my neighbor to the right for example. Before I came along he hadn't recycled in years. He never knew about freecycling and he had always thrown away his grass clippings. Now he gives all his clippings to me and has even taken clipping from my neighbors across the street to give to me. Sure some people like my leaf blowing neighbor may never change. He'll continue to use his leaf blower and take the easy way out of everything making his life all the more unhealthy, but as for the rest of us, the environmentalists, if we just continue to lead by example a neighbor, a friend, a family member or a child may take notice and start to do the same. That has been my experience anyways.

I still have my push real mower to cut the grass. I haven't given up on it completely. When the soil is dry and the grass is growing, but not too long I go outside and cut my grass without a problem. It isn't my favorite environmentally friendly option, but it will do for now, at least until I can save up an buy that solar powered lawn mower I've been eying for a while. In the mean time I still compost, recycle, buy what environmentally friendly products I can afford and live proud for trying to make a difference.

Gloria Campos-Hensley
http://inventorspot.com/blog/gloriacampos

By Rachel Gray, iVillage.com

If you're into smart, thought-provoking design, you'll have lots of new things to add to your wish list once you flip through Cool Green Stuff. The book has hundreds of fun and functional fashions, gadgets, furniture and home accessories you'll decide you can't live without. Much of the products featured are created from reclaimed materials, like a fruit bowl made from discarded wool felt, so you don't have to feel badly about your consumerism.

Other items I love are a coffee table made from compacted aluminum window frames, and these key holders made from seat belt buckles rescued from used cars.

Rachel Gray
iVillage.com, Associate Producer
http://housecalls.ivillage.com/home/

By Sam Singal, NBC Nightly News

I'm ashamed to admit that while I've always been aware of the benefits of recycling - rarely did I go out of my way to dispose of paper, plastic, cans, etc. in recycling bins despite the fact they seemed to be everywhere - in the office, at restaurants, even in the trash room of my apartment building. As I sit here typing this blog entry - I've paused several times - wondering why I ignored something as easy as tossing a soda can into a separate bin? There's no excuse. Then... I got married and things changed dramatically - for the better, of course!

My wife has been involved in the environmental movement since college and needless to say had no patience for my "I forgot to recycle the newspapers" excuse when I took out the trash. No surprise - it didn't take me long at all to make recycling a part of my daily routine.

I've come to learn there's an enormous sense of reward from doing something so easy and knowing that a simple task will have a lasting effect on future generations. I guess my advice would be - keep reminding... it's an important cause.

Sam Singal
NBC Nightly News, Producer
http://nightly.msnbc.com

By Rebecca Miller, KXAS NBC 5

To me, Going Green is a no-brainer. It's just a common sense way of living that I've been doing since I was a kid, composting kitchen and yard waste with my dad in the backyard. That was in the '70s, before it was called "going green".

By using recycled products, products that use little or no energy, and recycling what you can, you are cutting your own energy costs and saving money. On the environmental side, anytime we can reduce pollutants... whether in the air, in the water or in the ground, the earth benefits...and so do all its inhabitants.

She loves green cleaning as much as I do.

In my house, we are completely organic and have been for over 10 years. The yard is maintained completely organically. Cleaning products are "green": orange oil and various other "green" cleaners are all we use. I replaced a 50 gallon electric water heater with gas-powered tankless water heater, and my gas bills were instantly cut in half, even more in the summer. Appliances are all high-efficiency appliances. We unplug everything that's not in use. We eat organic foods... even the dogs eat organically!

The great thing about going green is that it's so easy! It takes very little thought or planning to buy a compact fluorescent light bulb, to buy High energy laundry detergents, to set a thermostat higher in the summer or lower in the winter. I'm so happy to see so many appliances and products available now that are "green".

By making even small changes in our daily lives, we make everything around us better.... and we save money to boot.

Rebecca Miller
KXAS NBC 5
http://nbc5i.com/goinggreen/

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

We've gotten pretty good at reading food labels but what about reading personal care labels? Shampoo, toothpaste, skin cleansers, hair conditioner, hand lotions, after shave, deodorant, baby oil... the personal care items we use everyday on ourselves and our family are full of harsh and potentially dangerous chemicals.

I grabbed a few popular personal care items and read their ingredients: sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium citrate, imidazolidinyl urea and DMDM hydantoin, titanium dioxide, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium chloride, isopropyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol.

When did getting clean get so chemical? And how can I learn more so I can protect myself and my family?

For help I turned to The 10 Most UNwanted Ingredients in Personal Care & Beauty Products at Natural Health Way. Here is their list of chemicals commonly found in personal care items and what these chemicals can do to harm you.

Isopropyl Alcohol:
Isopropyl alcohol is found in hair color rinses, body rubs, hand lotions, after-shave lotions, fragrances and many other cosmetics. This petroleum-derived substance is also used in antifreeze and as a solvent in shellac. According to A Consumers Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, inhalation or ingestion of the vapor may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting and coma.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES):
Used as detergents and surfactants, these closely related compounds are found in car wash soaps, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. Yet both SLS and SLES are used more widely as one of the major ingredients in cosmetics, toothpastes, hair conditioner and about 90% of all shampoos and products that foam. Mark Fearer in an article, Dangerous Beauty, says "...in tests, animals that were exposed to SLS experienced eye damage, along with depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation and corrosion and death." According to the American College of Toxicology states, "...both SLS and SLES can cause malformation in children's eyes. It is possibly the most dangerous of all ingredients in personal care products. Research has shown that SLS when combined with other chemicals can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens, which causes the body to absorb nitrates at higher levels than eating nitrate-contaminated food." According to the American College of Toxicology report, "SLS stays in the body for up to five days...Other studies have indicated that SLS easily penetrates through the skin and enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, the liver, the lungs and the brain. This poses serious questions regarding its potential health threat through its use in shampoos, cleansers and toothpaste."

Imidazolidinyl Urea and DMDM Hydantoin:
These are two of the many preservatives that release formaldehyde (formaldehyde-donors). According to the Mayo Clinic, formaldehyde can irritate the respiratory system, cause skin reactions and trigger heart palpitations. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep. It can also aggravate coughs and colds and trigger asthma. Serious side effects include weakening of the immune system and cancer. Nearly all brands of skin, body and hair care, antiperspirants and nail polish found in stores contain formaldehyde-releasing ingredients.

PEG:
This is an abbreviation for polyethylene glycol that is used in making cleansers to dissolve oil and grease as well as thicken products. Because of their effectiveness, PEG's are often used in caustic spray-on oven cleaners and yet are found in many personal care products. PEG's contribute to stripping the Natural Moisture Factor, leaving the immune system vulnerable. They are also potentially carcinogenic.

Propylene Glycol (PG):
As a 'surfactant' or wetting agent and solvent, this ingredient is actually the active component in antifreeze. There is no difference between the PG used in industry and the PG used in personal care products. It is used in industry to break down protein and cellular structure (what the skin is made of) yet is found in most forms of make-up, hair products, lotions, after-shaves, deodorants, mouthwashes and toothpastes. It is also used in food processing. Because of its ability to quickly penetrate the skin, the EPA requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles when working with this toxic substance. The Material Safety Data Sheets warn against skin contact, as PG has systemic consequences such as brain, liver and kidney abnormalities. Consumers are not protected nor is there a warning label on products such as stick deodorants, where the concentration is greater than that in most industrial applications.

Why do we need to put antifreeze in our shampoos? Why does toothpaste have a warning label about it being harmful if swallowed? Do I need to risk my personal health in order to practice good hygiene?

Fortunately not as there are some great natural beauty solutions in the market. I’ve blogged about some at http://connect.ivillage.com/groups/going-green. And I look forward to learning about your own natural solutions.

Mary Beth Gonzalez
iVillage.com
Wake Up and Smell the Planet, that's packed with bright ideas for making green choices throughout your day.

So how many light bulbs does it take to change a planet? As many as you can use. Compact fluorescents (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are both highly efficient alternatives to Edison's incandescent bulb. (And really, if he knew we were still relying on that invention more than a century later, don't you think he'd be appalled at our lack of ingenuity?) The newfangled bulbs cost more than the old ones, but they can pay for themselves in energy savings over just a year or so -- and they last a heck of a lot longer.

Make the switch.

Grist.org
http://www.Grist.org/

By Heather Stephenson, IdealBite.com

True confession: I'm a cat person. And although I do love my cat to pieces, I think I have a healthy sense of normalcy about the whole pet-ownership thing. My cat has plenty of toys and tons of love, but I have yet to buy him a diamond-studded collar or a hundred-dollar cat bed.

Thus, really over-the-top pet lovers have always puzzled me a little. I mean, these people are serious about their passion for their pets, lavishing them with clothing, jewelry, birthday parties, even professional pet portraits designed to preserve that happy face for all of posterity.

Another kind of pet-preservation makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, though.

A few years back, while chatting with a friend as she walked her dog, I had what I like to refer to as a "what's wrong with this picture?" revelation. I watched as she stopped and reached down with a plastic grocery store bag, picked up her dog's poop, knotted up the bag, and tossed it in a trashcan.

Um, why are we preserving poop, people?

Seriously - one of the most naturally biodegradable substances in the world, and we are sealing it in plastic. For what kind of posterity? In the end, I can accept the portrait thing... but I'll never understand a need to keep your dog's poop...fresh.

Wanna green your pet practices? Check out biodegradable dog-doo bags.

Heather Stephenson
CEO and Co-Founder
http://www.IdealBite.com

By By Simran Sethi, NBC News

In my first few days on-air as NBC News' new contributing environmental correspondent, I was labeled a "flaming liberal" by a gentleman on the web. Why? Because of my affinity for clean air, safe food, and healthy water and the suggestion that one easy thing people can do for the environment is to vote for elected officials that care about the preservation of natural resources - and hold them to task once they are elected.

My commitment to the environment is informed and inspired by leaders like Martha Marks, co-founder of Republicans for Environmental Protection who first helped me bridge the red/ blue divide and understand that we all share our natural resources and are dependent on our environment; Arianna Huffington, who reminded me that "rhetoric is cheap" and we must continue to monitor our elected officials once they are in office; and Interface CEO Ray Anderson, who heralds the concept of a "restorative enterprise" and the cost savings eco-efficiencies afford businesses.

President Teddy Roosevelt stood before Congress is 1907 and said: "The conservation of our natural resources and their proper use constitute the fundamental problem which underlies almost every other problem of our national life." Waterkeeper Alliance president and Natural Resources Defense Counsel (NRDC) attorney Robert Kennedy Jr. calls environmentalism "the most fundamental civil rights issue." Activists from Harlem to West Oakland are working to transform the blue collar economies that have dissolved in an era of globalization into vibrant green collar economies that make the United States a market leader in the development of renewable resource development and technology. And Wall Street is pouring funds into environmentally-forward businesses and funds not for philanthropic purposes but because they believe green will beget green.

The paradigmatic shift in what environmentalism is and who environmentalists are is an exciting one. All issues can be viewed through a green lens because they all exist within and our dependent on our ecosystem. Environmental issues are issues of public health, national security, and economic prosperity. Environmentalists are teachers, preachers, hunters, businesspeople, and soccer moms. And our collective concerns to preserve our farmlands, sustain our businesses, and sustain global leadership do not belong exclusively to the Reds or the Blues. Green, yes I am going to say it, is Universal.

By Simran Sethi
http://www.nbcnews.com

By Nori R. Takei, mun2

When you think "go green", you might think of things like recycling, hybrid cars and fluorescent light bulbs- all good things. You might not think about pollution credits, fossil fuel power plants, diesel-fueled truck routes and particulate matter.

The remarkable thing I learned from producing TOXIC CITY: This is Where I Live is that there is a powerful environmental youth movement happening across the country within Latino communities - and it's growing. Whether it was a focused effort to stop a power plant, aggressive urban tree planting, or cleaning up a Superfund site in a residential neighborhood, each young person I met was taking direct action within his or her own community. Not only demanding the right to a safer environment, these youth are also taking the time and interest to educate themselves, their families, and each other.

One of the youths told me he now understands that living next to a power plant is not something he had ever thought about before, and now, he walks around his neighborhood with his eyes open - and can take action. Young people have an enormous amount of power in this country, both economically and socially, and are proving right now that they can lead the way in making positive environmental change, not only for all of us, but for generations to come.

Nori R. Takei
http://www.holamun2.com/green/

By Grist.org

When we started the green news and humor site Grist.org way back in 1999, plastic wasn't even invented yet. Oh, OK, you got us -- plastic was around, but it sure wasn't at the top of anyone's worry list.

Now it turns out there are good reasons to be careful about plastic, especially when it comes to food and beverage containers. So say it with us: No number three for me. (Number three is the code on PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, whose manufacture, use, and disposal generates dioxin, which is a carcinogen and a hormone disruptor.) Number seven is no gem either -- it's the code on the polycarbonate that's used in most baby bottles and water bottles.

Grist.org
http://www.Grist.org/

By Richard Bicknell, Universal Studios Home Entertainment Canada

Earlier this year, we started a "Green Committee" at Universal Studios Video. This group has absolutely attacked the issues and opportunities inherent with all things 'green' with an energy that quite frankly took my by surprise. I always knew that we had a passionate team but from a personal level it was wonderful to know that I spend my days with so many people who share in my concerns and beliefs about this critical issue.

One of the first things the team thought of was DVD packaging. Traditionally in a polypropylene-based case, the idea was to develop a plastic-free alternative. Working with a Canadian supplier several prototypes were created until we had landed on one that we felt would satisfy our environmental standards. All we needed was a title to launch it with - then along came EVAN ALMIGHTY, with its themes of eco-responsibility and production effort to zero out its environmental impact, EVAN ALMIGHTY was the perfect and natural choice.

Our package uses paper endorsed by the Forest Stewardship Council, soy-based inks and a waterless printing process that eliminates ink getting into ground water and producing VOCs - volatile organic compounds - which have been linked to global warming. Our slim eco-pack also fits 100 to a box - thus requiring less impact on the environment from a shipping perspective. This Canadian-initiative was launched on DVD on October the 9th. Early sales support what consumers told us during our package testing in the summer - that a vast majority would continue to buy the same amount of DVDs even if all of them came in this package. Music to our ears but more importantly great news for our planet!

Richard Bicknell, VP Marketing
Universal Studios Home Entertainment Canada
http://www.udvd.ca

By Meredith Schulman, BrilliantButCancelled.com

01) The Simpsons - Lisa Simpson
Lisa's convictions are strongly leftist. She is a vegetarian, and has expressed a desire to become a vegan. Lisa also joined the animal rights group PETA .

02) Friends - Phoebe Buffay
Portrayed by Lisa Kudrow, Phoebe is somewhat of a champion of animal rights and the environment. She is a vegetarian, and doesn't eat "food with a face. She is against the wearing of fur coats, and cries when flowers die.

03) Green Acres - Oliver Wendell Douglas
Oliver Wendell Douglas was a New York City attorney who had a dream of moving to the Midwest and operating a farm rather than practicing law. His character did not adjust well to farm life, not for lacking of trying though. The show concentrated on farm life, growing your own crops and caring for animals.

04) All in the Family - Gloria and Michael Stivic
Portrayed by Sally Struthers and Rob Reiner shared liberal political beliefs. An example of this is when Michael got arrested for a nude protest at a nuclear power plant.

05) Ellen DeGeneres Show - Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen is a big animal activist and lover of the environment. On her show she often refers t other hybrid car she drives as well tries to get many pets adopted.

06) Days of our Lives - Sami and Lucas
Sami and Lucas have a "Green Wedding" Their cake will be made of organic flour, organic dairy products, free range eggs and other natural ingredients, her dress will be created out of pure silk, many of the flowers for the green wedding will be living arrangements, in other words, potted plants, that can be transplanted and reused. The rings that Sami and Lucas will exchange come from Tacori, a "green business" famous for their signature crescent silhouette trademarked design and known for using conflict free diamonds. The printed menus, invitations and place cards are made from recycled paper and raw silk.

07) Kermit the Frog
Kermit is known from coming from the swamp and loving it. In 1996, he gave a commencement speech at Southampton College in which he emphasized his environmentalist side. In January 2006, in a commercial for the Ford Escape Hybrid

08) CSI - Sara Sidle
Played by Jorja Fox this character was not always a supporter of the environment. After taking on certain cases this began to change. She now has a soft spot for animals. After seeing Grissom conduct an experiment using a pig, she became a vegetarian, and she put in additional time on a case involving a slaughtered gorilla.

09) Boy Meets World - Topanga Lawrence
Portrayed by Danielle Fishel was introduced as the hippie vegetarian character, who had strong beliefs about the environment. As her character aged and entered high school these issues were less prevalent

10) Northern Exposure - Chris Stevens
Portrayed by John Corbett was a disc jockey who used his platform to tell the world about nature and life.

11) Sundance Channel
That green tint on your television is from the Sundance Channel's new programming. The network, founded by actor and longtime environmental advocate Robert Redford, will debut a weekly three-hour block of ecofriendly TV in April. Plans for "The Green," the first segment of its kind in prime time, include a series profiling leading activists and innovators, feature-length documentaries, lifestyle shows, and news specials.

12) Saved By The Bell - Jessie Spano
Portrayed by Elizabeth Berkley she is the show's resident know-it-all crusader. She's often seen pursuing a variety of causes. Many of them are enviornmentally based, such as protesting against oil spills and the use of certain products in the Bayside cafeteria.

13) Penn and Teller's Bullsh*t - Penn and Teller
This original series airs on Showtime. The two tackle subjects such as nuclear power, hybrid cars, the Arctic National Wildlife and pollution.

14) The Office - Angela Martin
Portrayed by Angela Kinsey is the head of accounting at Dunder- Mifflin. She stands out as the animal loving, vegetarian of the group.

15) The Wonder Years - Karen Arnold
The oldest sibling of the Arnold clan was portrayed by Oliva d'Abo. She was known as a hippie with liberal beliefs who later gets married and moved to Alaska.

16) Desperate Housewives - John Rowland
The infamous gardener portrayed by Jesse Metcalf was a lover of nature. He was a teenage gardener, who grew up to run his own successful gardening company

17) Designing Spaces
Informative series inspires viewers to make every space count and instructs them on the smartest ways to make their homes more beautiful and functional. Forbo Flooring Inc. has come up with a solution to unhealthy flooring with Marmoleum Marmoleum is a floating floor with excellent environmental & indoor air quality properties, featured on Designing Spaces.

18) Living with Ed - Ed Begley Jr
In this reality show, Ed Begley Jr is an eco-obsessed husband. The show is set in the couple's entirely solar-powered, modest, two-bedroom Hollywood home. The series takes viewers inside their unconventional lifestyle, and also offers real tips on ways to create a more eco-friendly home.

19) Work Out
This workout reality show has an outdoor gym. The gym boasts 360-degree views of Los Angeles, and classes such as yoga under the stars. These type of classes inspire environmentally friendly behavior.

20) Dharma & Greg - Abigail
Portrayed my Mimi Kennedy is Dharma's free spirited mother. She is is a militant vegan, and extremely liberal

21) Threes Company - Janet Wood.
Janet was played by Joyce DeWitt. Janet worked in and then later managed the "Arcade Flower Shop." She was very fond of plants, and pots of leafy green were seen all over her apartment.

Meredith Schulman
BrilliantButCancelled.com
http://blogs.brilliantbutcancelled.com

By Ginger Zee, NBC 5 Chicago

I've been trying to use those cloth bags every time I go to the grocery store. I feel like if I didn't, people would start staring at me in Whole Foods saying, "Isn't that the Going Green lady from Channel 5... oh look, she's wasting plastic!"

Fear of being accused of being a hypocrite aside, "Going Green" is something I'd be doing anyway. Conservation and sustainability have always been part of my life; I've always turned water off when I brush my teeth, turned off all the lights, and found value in eating organic foods.

To me, these things aren't "Going Green" - we should have already gone there. So, since taking on the "Green" reports last April, I've made it a goal to get even greener... both personally and in the stories we cover.

While telling stories about donating shoes and recycling ash trees forced to be cut down into little league baseball bats is entertaining and informative, there are bigger issues to tackle.

As a meteorologist, people are always asking me what I think about Global Warming. I often turn the subject to conservation and sustainability, because no one can argue that we need to do that.

So being the "Green" reporter in more than one sense (this is my 14th month at NBC 5) has been a trip. We honestly get hundreds of emails each month regarding "Green" ideas and "Green" tips from viewers and companies in the Chicago-land area. The reaction locally has been astounding. Chicago is a city that is incredibly proud - of everything - and now they can add being a little greener to that pride.

Check out a few of my other favorite "Green" stories - and Go Green!

Ginger Zee
NBC 5 Chicago's "Green" reporter
http://nbc5.com/goinggreen/

By Megan Mitzel, BlogAds.com

My mom lives for zucchini. Not just any zucchini, but her zucchini. You might even say she dotes on her zucchini like it was a child.

For many years she has gone out of her way to obtain only the best fertilizer for her precious zucchini. She takes weekend trips, clad out in her worst jeans, boots and gloves, to the local horse farm. She shovels up as much manure as possible into four large white buckets, and hauls it all home to spread throughout her 10x15 garden plot.

Her devotion doesn't just stop at horse manure. If you've ever eaten a banana in my house, thrown the peel away in the trash, and heard from my outraged mother- you know where I am going with this. A banana peels correct home is in the compost bin, not the trash can. When the compost bin fills, the contents get dumped in to a huge pile at the bottom of the hill in our backyard- our very own compost heap.

At any given point this pile might contain fruit cores, seeds and peels, melon rinds, outer leaves of lettuce and cabbage, carrot tops, broccoli stems, corn cobs, egg shells, and leaves. And yes, sometimes rotten zucchini. Other people include rarer items like dead deer but my mom's never gone that far. The contents are decomposed by earthworms, bacteria and time, leaving heaping piles of the best soil at the bottom of the pile. My mother uses this rich brown soil to grow her zucchini- no artificial or chemical fertilizers.

Maybe my mom's heaping buckets of horse manure frightens you, but if you would like to be "greener" or love zucchini, a giant brown compost pile is a totally do-able must. Not only will your vegetables be robust, but the process will get you outdoors and shrink the volume of your trash. Get Started.

Megan Mitzel
blog advertising analyst
http://www.blogads.com

By Kim Jack Riley, Petside.com

Hey, going green is not just for humans. Did you know you can go green with your pets too? Have you heard about pesticide-free pet treats, eco-friendly toys, and pet clothing from recycled materials?

My dog Maxi

At home I started out with grooming products for my Shetland Sheepdog, Maxi. It was very easy to find a dog shampoo with no harsh detergents, no artificial colors and no synthetic perfumes. Maxi didn't really take to the spritz - too Poodle-y -- but now I don't worry about poisoning when he tries licking off the bubbles. Shelties with all their long, Lassie-like hair, are also famous for messy behinds post-poop, so it was a big plus to find out that switching to an all-natural raw food diet actually decreased unnecessary pooping (more nutrients, less waste), and lets just say ‘things' come out in more of a neat bundle!

So what are YOU waiting for? We've just launched a new website for pet owners at www.petside.com, so if you wanna read more about greening your pet check out our articles on earth friendly dog poop disposal and eco-friendly cat litter.

Kim Jack Riley
http://www.petside.com

By Julie Fiedler, Hulu.com

It's the little things... the really, really little things...

We have all heard that little changes can add up to make a big difference. Many do their part and are diligent about recycling, conserving water, and saving electricity. I certainly do what I can. Recently I came across a statistic that showed me one more little (and easy) way to help.

You know indicator lights? Those little green and orange lights that tell you if your appliance is turned on or in standby mode? Approximately 5% of total domestic energy consumption goes toward powering those display lights. Not the appliances in active use, but those little lights themselves.

That's crazy. So, I became a little obsessed with turning off my appliances. I used to turn off my overhead light when I left work. Now I also turn off my monitor because of the little orange standby light. I used to keep my shredder on, but set to inactive mode. Now I turn it off entirely.

These are little things to be sure and most people don't give them a second thought. I know I didn't. So I looked at it from another green perspective. On average, this would save every household $100 a year. OK, it's not huge, but if someone gave me $100, I'd be psyched. So why not give it to myself? Besides, think of all the Styrofoam cups $100 could buy... A LOT!

Joking aside, the little things add up. When you scan a room, start to notice how many of those little lights you see. Then start to turn them off. By taking any steps, however small, going green will not only help the environment, but it can also give you a little green kickback of your own.

Julie Fiedler
http://www.Hulu.com

By Jen Boulden, IdealBite.com

I have a few slightly obsessive-compulsive tendencies. One is that I must clean the dryer lint filter immediately upon opening the dryer door. It is like this little prize: "Let's see what the lint bunny laid for me to day!" Okay, maybe I am confessing too much, but there is this beautiful thing about removing all the stray fuzzies from clothing in one nice little soft sheet - don't you think? Regardless, here is the point: doing this is actually good for the planet.

Here's why: A clogged lint filter can increase dryer energy use up to 30%, and may be a fire hazard.

I promise if I come to your house, I will check for a bottle of good wine before I check the dryer filter. But after a few glasses, don't be surprised if you find me sneaking into the laundry room, looking for lint.

Jen Boulden
Co-Founder and SVP
http://www.IdealBite.com

By Grist.org

You caaaaan ... but do you really want to? Our book, Wake Up and Smell the Planet addresses all sorts of choices you might face in your daily life, things like what to eat, what to wear, and, yes, how to dispose of pet waste. So if you really do want to compost your cat's poop, we'll tell you how to go about it in a safe and clean way. Yep, that's how much we care.

And if that topic is purr-fectly up your alley, you'll be glad to know you can get more green tips if you sign up for one of our free email lists to have green living tips delivered directly to your inbox.

Grist.org
http://www.Grist.org/

By Diana Olick, CNBC.com

If you think your car is an environmental monster, then be afraid, very afraid, of your house. I was covering a major home building conference last February when I heard an incredible factoid: your house leaves a bigger carbon footprint than your car. Why? Because, unlike your car, it is ALWAYS running.

So I went home to my hundred-year-old wood and stucco house in DC and started to re-evaluate. Green building is one thing, but the bulk of houses in America are old, so the best we can do is what those in the enviro-industry call "retro-fit" our homes.

Now I'll admit, I'm not a rabid recycler. I've got the bin, but let's face it, with everything else I've got to sort out in my life (husband, two kids, full-time job), sorting the trash just isn't always in the program. But suddenly I'm juiced; I've spent two days at a conference hearing about how I can make my home more environmentally friendly, and I even visited a model "retro-fit" home. This can't be that hard.

I'm good on the leaky windows. We had them all replaced with Andersen Renewal windows, not because of the heat that we were losing but because of the wind that was coming in. So much for the motivation there. But I have to say, it was pricey! Close to $10,000 for the whole house!!! Now I'm looking at my appliances. I'm cooking with gas, which I think is good, but I've got two dishwashers that run for two hours each.

Thank goodness one of them recently broke, so I went online to look at the energy saver models. Unfortunately, the better the energy savings, the less the cost savings. I'm waiting for a sale at Sears, but I guess I'm saving energy because the dishwasher sits there, broken, and so I'm not using it, right?

There's a lot of talk about water, saving it, cleaning it, recycling it. I recently finished an addition to my home, adding a master bathroom...with a dousing rain-head shower head. I'm sorry, I love it. Sue me. I do use Brita water filters, so as to save on buying bottled water, and all the plastic involved in that. Ok, lighting. I went to the hardware store and bought compact fluorescent bulbs, but I've yet to actually put one in because I don't want to waste the mega-box of regular bulbs I had already bought at Costco. Waste not!

Heating and air. We have a two-zone heating and air-conditioning system, which is a check in the plus column, right? And I've programmed both zones so that they don't run during the day when nobody's at home, and the downstairs is off while we're all sleeping upstairs.

Of course, this can be a problem when you forget, like when my daughter was home sick from school last week. She didn't have a fever, but was sweating profusely. As a matter of fact, so was I. Did I catch her bug?? I started to panic, until I finally realized that it was 90 degrees outside, and the AC wasn't on, thanks to all my enviro-friendly programming.

Now I should be thinking about insulation, solar, low-flow toilets and composting in the back yard. But DC doesn't get that cold, solar panels cost a fortune, low-flow toilets sound somehow unsanitary to me (I have absolutely no basis for that comment other than emotional) and I can't even get my husband to cut the grass himself, so composting is about as likely as world peace. The best I can do right now is yell at my kids to shut off the lights.

Diana Olick
CNBC.com
http://green.cnbc.com

By Guy Barnett, The Brooklyn Brothers

Unlike Al Gore, certain CNN anchors and the growing army of eco-worriers, I've never believed the planet is in peril due to climate change. In its 4.5 billion year history, the earth has survived periods of being a fireball and a snowball and come out of both capable of sustaining life. So global warming is of little concern to the earth.

It is, however, a trifle more worrying if you happen to enjoy living on this planet. Which I do. And if you're on this site, you probably do, too.

The trouble is what can you do?

My company, the Brooklyn Brothers, is not what you'd call a major polluter: mainly we do advertising (a different kind of pollution for sure but not a major contributor to global warming). And when you consider that 8 billion tons of carbon are emitted into the atmosphere every year, the effect of our small business is negligible.

Still, we thought, what little we could do, we were determined to do. So we set about offsetting all our carbon emissions, not just for our offices but for every production we organized, too. We employed an environmental consultant, ERM, to help us develop a software tool to calculate our emissions. And we enlisted the cable network Versus to be our first advertiser.

Every aspect of the production was taken into account: from the round trip flights to the chemicals used in film processing to the power generators on set. The resulting campaign of a dozen spots is, we believe, the world's first carbon-neutral ad campaign.

Sure, it's a small step. But if you take it too, maybe, just maybe, we'll get somewhere.

Guy Barnett, Co-founder
The Brooklyn Brothers
http://www.thebrooklynbrothers.com

I've always been pretty impulsive when it comes to spending my green on the finer things in life but I've also always been conscious of the effects that my consumerist appetite can have on the planet.

Recycling doesn't only need to apply to paper, glass and cans. I recycle clothes, shoes, cell phones, computer hardware, pretty much anything that anyone else can use, I give it away instead of throwing it away.

Shoes are always at the top of my shopping lists. If I don't give old or lightly used shoes to family or friends, I'll find an organization to donate them to, like One World Running. Here's the touching story about the inspiration for this organization.

DASI is a local organization that helps victims of domestic violence and Project Self-Sufficiency is another great organization that helps single-mothers re-entering the work force. To both of these groups I donate my business and casual clothing, shoes, computer hardware and cell phones. More power to ya, ladies!

The best part about this type of recycling is that I get to "offset" my guilt at going on another shopping spree by giving to people who wouldn't be able to afford these items otherwise. If you don't feel like getting all warm and fuzzy and just want to dispose of the stuff, check out this video for more info about what to do with tapes, CDs, computer hardware and cell phones and contact your local Salvation Army for everything else.

Nicole Walters
http://www.GreenIsUniversal.com

By Trevor Curwin, SciFi.com

Every month you spend money on energy - it's in your electric bill, the batteries you buy, and that increasingly painful price tag for a tank of gas. But it's not like you get 100% of what you paid for; there's always be a few watts or drops that go to waste. Add to that all the energy mother nature puts out there just because she's really got nothing else to do, and you've got loads of energy just floating around out there ready for the taking, if only we could find out... how?

Some clever people are finally answering that question, creating innovative energy-scavenging technologies to get back some of those junked joules. Hit the link to check 'em out.

Trevor Curwin
http://blog.scifi.com/tech/

By Richard Bicknell, Universal Studios Home Entertainment Canada

One of the biggest challenges as a manager is keeping your staff 'engaged'. Here at Universal Studios Video in Toronto, we dedicate quite a bit time to that endeavor. Training, town halls, task forces, social committees and volunteer opportunities are all part of our effort to inform, motivate and excite our employees. What's been interesting and gratifying for me is the level of engagement and excitement our staff here has shown for our Green Committee.

Started earlier in the year and comprising of staff from all departments, this group has absolutely attacked the issues and opportunities inherent with all things 'green' with an energy that quite frankly took my by surprise. I always knew that we had a passionate team but from a personal level it was wonderful to know that I spend my days with so many people who share in my concerns and beliefs about this critical issue.

The Green committee is led by our VP of Operations Erica Robertson. Erica and I go back 13 years and I know when she gets behind something results are sure to follow... and quickly. The Green Committee publishes an internal email each month entitled "Green Bits". This notice outlines all our efforts from a company perspective but also highlights ideas that everyone can take home.

For instance...

• Placed can and paper recycling bins in all boardrooms


• We will be providing thermal travel mugs and water bottles to all employees to encourage them to stop using paper/Styrofoam cups. We will also be removing paper cups from the water coolers once these mugs/bottles have been handed out


• New employees will receive a green welcome package including the mug and water bottle and information on how to stay green


• Individual departments have begun holding paperless meetings using projectors (i.e. marketing CLAD meetings) and reducing the amount of paper printing and filing, moving to electronic information where possible. For example, our shipping company is now providing electronic backup for air shipments instead of the hundreds of pages they were sending us before. This has also resulted in more efficient and timely handling of the information


• We will be creating It's Easy Being Green stickers with our mascot on it and placing them around light switches and printers to encourage people to turn off lights and print-less


• We are investigating better printers with scan and double sided print capabilities. These are also more efficient from a power usage perspective


• We have undergone a printer rationalization on the 6th floor, reducing the number of printers from 7 to 3. This has resulted in reduced power consumption and toner cartridge usage


• We are working closely with the café to see if we can reduce the amount of Styrofoam packaging and also try to implement a green bin program (not sure if we can do this financially but we are pursuing the idea with our waste management company)


• We are going to start a lights out campaign next month

Richard Bicknell
Universal Studios Home Entertainment Canada, VP Marketing
http://www.udvd.ca

By Darla Mack, DarlaMack.com

One thing that I used to be proud of was the fact that up until 2 months ago I had managed to save all of my bills from T-Mobile. I'm talking about almost 10 years of bills, all in chronological order.

Each month when I received my bill I would write notes on it of conversations to customer care, upcoming rate plans and features, phone prices and anything else that I thought that I would need somewhere down the line.

I realized that after almost 10 years of collecting, the only time this came in handy was last year when I filed taxes and claimed my Federal Excise Tax refund.

When I signed up for Cingular/AT&T my first paper bill was as thick as a paperback book! Didn't quite understand why since there was hardly much activity. This was way before the 'iPhone paper waste' topics that were so widely spoken about. (see here, here and here) I compared both providers billing style and came to the conclusion that AT&T ridiculously wastes paper.

So a few months ago, I decided to opt out on paper billing and go the paperless route. Not so much to save space in my cabinets for something else, but to save on the amount of trees that are being destroyed just so that I may take notes. I think it was the sensible choice since I pay my bill online anyway.

T-Mobile introduced its paperless billing back in June of 2005. I was a bit skeptical at first because I didn't have any paper to write on when it came to calling in for a specific reason, but I learned to overlook that by using the notepad function on either my laptop or my mobile.

Darla Mack
http://www.DarlaMack.com

By Paul Goldman, NBC News

TEL AVIV: Most of us think garbage is a stinky business, but for Doron Sapir it's part of his life and work. Until 1999, Doron's knowledge about recycling was limited to throwing his own garbage away, but then he was appointed to the unpleasant job of taking care of 2,700 tons of garbage produced by the city of Tel Aviv and its surrounding area every day.

Today he can proudly say that he has transformed the "Hiriya" dump into the largest and most advanced environmental center in Israel.

The Hiriya dump was established in 1952, and by 1999 rose to a height of 200 feet and stretching more than a mile long. The massive heap contributed to the greenhouse effect by emitting large quantities of bio-gas, which consists of methane and carbon dioxide. These gases are formed by the decomposition of organic substances found in compacted garbage piles.

Sapir, together with the Dan Region Association of Towns, decided to turn the dump site into a waste transfer station which sorts and recycles the garbage. Standing on top of the hill, Sapir points to a tube sticking out of the earth, and explains that there are 60 gas wells like this one which collect the Methane gas and transport it by hose to a nearby factory. This factory, like the Hiriya site, produces all its electricity from this recycled gas.

One thousand trucks arrive at the Hiriya center every day where they unload waste from households, army camps and hospitals around the city of Tel Aviv. Some of this garbage is sifted by a very simple but ingenious method: the waste is thrown into a big pool of water where metal sinks while plastic and paper float. Plastic, iron and metal are then sent off to recycling plants in Israel.

Special machines shred garden waste, which in turn gets recycled and used for soil covering or for making garden compost.

Huge crushing machines handle the recycling of construction material into new cement which is used to support the steep slopes of the landfill, and for building new roads.

Sapir's vision is not only to rehabilitate the former garbage dump but also to include it in a huge park twice the size of Central Park in New York City. This week both Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres adopted his vision. They gave their commitment that Hiriya will be part of a 2000- acre green park. At the same occasion, the park was named for Israel's former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is still in hospital after suffering a stroke.

If you were wondering about the park benches, well, all wood that is found here among the garbage is saved and transferred to the on-site carpentry shop and turned into garden benches.

Paul Goldman
http://www.green.msnbc.com

By Cathy Zoi, Alliance for Climate Protection

As CEO of The Alliance for Climate Protection, chaired by Al Gore, the question I get asked most frequently is what can everyday people do to help solve the climate crisis.

Of course we should all implement climate-friendly actions to lessen our own impacts -- making the right choices on light bulbs, appliances, and cars are important. In the house my family rents, we have replaced at least 20 light bulbs with CFLs and switch them off when not needed. We're also a two-Prius family.

However, I know that personal behavior changes alone will not stop global warming -- for it is not households that decide if a new coal plant will be built or if automobiles must have higher fuel economy. These significant economy-wide decisions are made by government and business leaders.

And right now even though public awareness of climate change is very high, governments carry on each day with decisions on power plants, housing developments, vehicle standards, and use of fossil fuels that worsen the problem instead of unleashing a robust clean energy future.

As citizens we must tell decision-makers that this is not good enough. That we expect more. Specifically, that as citizens we believe (1) the climate crisis is urgent (2) technologies are available to solve it (3) we need our leaders to enact policies so climate-friendly solutions are put in place.

So my answer to the question about what everyday people can do -- make your voice heard. Talk to your friends so they do the same. Do it for yourselves and our kids. Join the Alliance's growing movement to demand change.

Cathy Zoi, CEO
Alliance for Climate Protection
http://www.climateprotect.org

By Terry Ruggles, NBC 10 Philadelphia

Philadelphia is trying to make history... again. In the mid 1980's Philadelphia became the first major city in the United States to start a city wide recycling program. But today even city officials agree it has been a huge flop. Only 7% of Philadelphia households recycle.

Philadelphia's apathy toward recycling reflects what has been much of the countries apathy toward going green. Too much work, too expensive, and inconvenient are just some of the excuses people use.

But the city of brotherly love seems to be awakening from an "environmental nap" that has lasted a quarter of a century. Some neighborhoods participating in a new recycling initiative have a 70% participation rate. Car sharing programs get bigger every day. People are switching to those energy saving light bulbs. School kids can tell you how trees help clean the air.

There is a new awareness! I'm really not sure why. Maybe it's Al Gore and his academy award-winning movie. Maybe it's the price of a barrel of oil and a gallon of gas. Maybe it's baby boomers feeling guilty about being such a large part of the resource gluttons we have become. Quite frankly, I don't care the reason. I'm just happy it's happening and that Philadelphia is jumping in, again, with both feet.

Terry Ruggles
NBC 10 Philadelphia
http://nbc10.com/goinggreen/

By Michael Marano, SciFi.com

We can't say we haven't been warned. Hollywood (OK, a dubious messenger if ever there was one) has conjured images of environmental disasters at least since the debut of talkies.

We've found some stand-outs, each with a different horrific result. Dancing man-frogs, fertilo-fascism, no-grain bread and saffron hekinis (see photo). All have been foretold.

Check out our featured article: 5 Environmental Futures That Await Us If We Don't Clean Up Our Act

Michael Marano
SciFi.com
http://www.scifi.com/sfw/screen/sfw17255.html

By Andrew Brewer

This past Monday, I got up bright and early and joined close to one hundred of my fellow NBC Universal employees to help clean, restore and beautify Sherman Creek in northern Manhattan. This "Help Clean and Go Green" volunteer project was part of the company's Green Is Universal initiative.

When we arrived at the park at around eight in the morning, our fearless leader, CEO Jeff Zucker, and his family were there to welcome and greet all of us. Jeff then presented a check on behalf of NBC Universal to the New York Restoration Project, our partners in this effort, so that they could continue their work of making New York City a "greener" place to live. I was familiar with the organization's work. Living in New York's East Village, I have seen the NYRP take neglected parks in my neighborhood and work their restorative magic -- turning eyesores into wonderful places for all to enjoy.

After the ceremony, "Team NBCU" got to work. I spent the morning loading perennials onto a truck with the help of cast members from 30 Rock. I planted greenery with WNBC's Chris Cimino and Rob Morrison, and met and worked with a number of my fellow co-workers to clear almost 3,500 square feet of overgrown garbage-strewn waterfront. It was not only extremely rewarding to work with my colleagues from various departments toward a common goal -- it was also a whole lot of fun! I couldn't help but think through projects like this we not only were making the world a more beautiful place to live but also, through teamwork and getting to know one another, we were making our company a much better place to work. I mean, where else are you going to get a chance to "network" while holding a pick ax or pushing a wheelbarrow filled with mulch?

As a Vice President at NBC Universal and an employee of the company for over two decades, I've always been proud of our company, its history and its shows, but Monday morning I found myself particularly proud of the Peacock as we worked together to make Manhattan, and this earth, a better and more beautiful place to live.

I would urge other corporations and individuals to do what they can at this critical juncture to pitch in and help heal the planet. It takes a lot of little gestures on the part of both people and companies to make a big difference. Come join NBC Universal as we take steps to protect our environment and GO GREEN!

Andrew Brewer
http://www.greenisuniversal.com

By Jenifer Morgan, IdealBite.com

You've heard the news - paper bags use up trees and plastic ones require landfills. Bring my own reusable bag? You bet that's a good idea. Actually establishing new BYOB habit? Um...well...

By K. Lawson, PimpWiz.com

Designer Anya Hindmarch started a wildly popular fashion craze when she designed a simple canvas bag with the words "I'm not a plastic bag". The bag quickly sold out in stores and began to sell for outrageous prices on eBay, but once it became a fad, the real message behind the item seemed to be lost on many. The bag is meant to be used as an environmentally friendly replacement for the shopping bags given out at retail and grocery stores. And I don't mean carrying it to stuff the things you've purchased in. The idea is to actually hand these canvas bags over to the bagger and have him or her use them in place of plastic.

Did you ever stop and think about how many plastic bags you're given on an average trip to the grocery store? A whole lot! But most people don't even consider the idea of bringing their own reusable canvas bags with them. It's actually not a new concept, in fact in some countries canvas is the only choice at the checkout. And you definitely don't have to buy anything expensive or designer to make this change. You can stock up on canvas totes for only $0.99 each at places like CheapTotes.com.

Here are a few other things to look for while at the grocery store, and the earth will love you for it:

-Buy the paper towels that are perforated down the middle. These allow you to choose the size, meaning you can use a half a sheet or a full sheet, but only if you need it.

-Do you drink water bottles? Try buying the biodegradable kind. You'll know they're biodegradable because the bottles feel more flimsy, but they don't break and they serve their purpose.

-Look for compact fluorescent bulbs to replace regular light bulbs. They're easy to find because they're usually shaped like a spiral, instead of being round at the top. These babies use less energy and will even save you money on your electric bill. They look pretty cool as well!

Pretty easy, right? . You'll benefit the environment and maybe even become a trend setter at the same time!

K. Lawson
http://www.pimpwiz.com/2007/10/green-is-universal.shtml

What if, wondered organizers of the world championships of Olympic-style boxing staged this fall in Chicago, each fighter on check-in was given his own water bottle to fill time and again, however many times he wanted, with some of that good ol' city tap water straight from Lake Michigan?

Wouldn't that cut down on the mountain of plastic water bottles that inevitably now clutters every major sports event? Would that idea fly?

In planning for the boxing event, one of the first Olympic-style sports championships to be staged in the United States in recent years, officials -- in seeking to enhance Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics -- from the outset placed a high priority on "green" initiatives.

It was, of course, the right thing to do.

But it was also the smart thing to do. The International Olympic Committee has long emphasized environmental awareness. Indeed, without "green" sensitivities, any Olympic bid -- indeed, any Olympic project of any sort -- is a dead-bang loser.

Environmental protection is formally considered one of the "pillars" upon which the Olympic movement rests, IOC President Jacques Rogge reminded his audience in delivering a speech this fall in Beijing, site of the 2008 Summer Games. IOC sensitivities are so keen that the electronic delivery of Rogge's speech to reporters beforehand contained this reminder: "Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail."

Under IOC pressure, Chinese authorities are scrambling to implement a number of far-reaching environmental initiatives in advance of the Aug. 8, 2008, opening ceremony, including sharp reductions in factory and auto emissions.

London's winning bid for the 2012 Summer Games rested on plans for the construction of the largest new public park in Europe in 150 years. Spectators will in effect have to take public transit to the London Games since parking will be extraordinary limited and available then primarily to fans with physical disabilities. Officials are even aiming to find a more carbon-neutral flame to be kept alight in the cauldron for the month of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The IOC will pick the 2016 site in 2009. Also in the mix, along with Chicago: Tokyo; Madrid; Rio de Janeiro; Prague; Baku, Azerbaijian; and Doha, capital of the Persian Gulf emirate of Qatar.

All of the "official" cars in use at the Chicago boxing championships were Toyota hybrids. Baxter, the healthcare company headquartered in suburban Deerfield, Ill., donated "carbon credits" designed to offset 8,000 tons of carbon dioxide -- making the championships perhaps one of the first such events to be carbon neutral. All program materials were printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.

The water-bottle idea ultimately didn't work -- this time. Too many complexities, organizers judged. But it wasn't for lack of trying, or brainstorming -- and a recognition that, in spheres of Olympic influence. green is gold.

"We wanted to ensure that the boxing championships were as green as they could be," said Bill Scherr, chairman of World Sport Chicago, the private committee overseeing the boxing championships, adding, "Whether it is taking public transport, using hybrid cars for delegations to working with our hotel partners to go green, a lot of little things can make a huge difference."

Alan Abrahamson
http://www.NBCOlympics.com

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

There is something very Laura Ingalls Wilder about being able to meet the local farmer who feeds you and your family. My husband and I belong to a local buyers club, and the Amish farmers I've met over the years are earnest, hard-working, simple family folk. In fact, they often bring their children with them on their dairy run to NYC and have them help package the orders. If the delicious taste of their fresh, locally grown organic food isn't enough, seeing the beaming, round face of a 7 year old Amish boy proudly hand over your order makes the entire experience profoundly satisfying. Through our membership, we basically own a share in a cow in Pennsylvania Amish country. Twice a month our farmer delivers his raw milk orders to NYC. His dairy farm produces delicious and nutritious raw milk, raw cream, raw cheese, kefir, yogurt, organic eggs. Often the farmer also has local organic meats such as beef, sausage, bacon, chicken and pork.

Now when I talk about Going Green, my friends and colleagues nod along with me on why we should drive hybrids, eat organic foods and unplug our cell phone chargers when not in use but when it comes to consuming Raw Milk, they just shake their heads and wonder what I'm up to this time. I'd like to explain the secret power of Raw Milk as it can have an enormous impact on the health of you and your children.

Raw Milk is safe and good for you and your family if the farmer takes proper care of his cows, the milking and delivery process. Raw Milk contains multiple bioactive components that can reduce pathogenic bacteria. Simply said, though many of us fear raw milk, it can actually protect your body from dangerous bacteria. One of the reasons why doctors recommend that women breast feed their children is because of the natural Lactoperoxidase found in human breast milk. Lactoperoxidase seeks out and destroys bad bacteria. Animal milk like goat's milk has 10 times the level of Lactoperoxidase than in breast milk.

For those of you who seek more detail, raw animal milk contains dozens of bacteria fighting components such as Lactoferrin, Polysaccharides, Medium-Chain Fatty Acids, Enzymes, Anitbocides, White blood cells, B-lymphocytes, Macrophages, Neutophils, T-lymphocyes, Lysosyme, Mucins, Oligosaccharides, B12 Binding Protein, Bifidus and Fibronectin. All of these components are actively fighting bacteria when consumed raw but are made inactive when milk is pasteurized. In fact, pasteurization provides virtually no bacteria fighting protection.

So why should you care? You have the power to use the power of raw milk to protect you and your family from dangerous bacteria such as E.Coli and Salmonella. If you want to read more about this subject from scientific sources follow these links: realmilk.com and westonaprice.org.

Unfortunately access to Raw Milk is limited due to legal restrictions. If you want to know where to find Raw Milk in your area check out this link: realmilk.com/where1.html. While access to Raw Milk isn't easy for everyone, it is truly worth the extra effort.

Mary Beth Gonzalez
iVillage.com
http://www.ivillage.com/green/

By Ecofabulous.com

Being the most widely used fiber, statistics regarding the conventional production of cotton are nothing short of shocking - suffice it to say it's the most pesticide-intensive crop on the planet. That's why it's imperative to shop, not just organic fruits and veggies, but organic cotton too.

Your eco-options for fabrics need not be limited to cotton alone, though. The market has expanded into greener territory with even some seemingly odd innovations, sometimes called "new organics." Perhaps the most publicized has been Ingeo, a company that makes a fabric from corn. After fermenting the sugar from corn (much in the same way as yogurt) it's transformed into polymers that create a durable yet biodegradable fiber. Check out their website for more info, to see where it's being used and who's supplying it.

Tencel is the brand name for a type of fiber called lyocell that is produced from the cellulose of wood pulp. The process of creating lyocell has been heralded as environmentally friendly - garnering a European Union's Environmental Award - as it's manufactured in a closed loop of constantly recycled additives and minimal waste. It spins out totally white, so bleach is unnecessary. Plus, the fiber degrades in just eight days in waste treatment plants.

A company called EcoSpun keeps three billion plastic bottles out of landfills each year by transforming them into a fleece-like fabric. Although the process is energy intensive, we commend their use of post-consumer materials. Another notable fabric making headway comes from the byproduct of soybean oil production. Called SPF for Soybean Protein Fiber, these amino acids are said to be as good for your skin as their ingestible counterparts.

Bamboo pulp can also be converted into a naturally antibacterial fabric that wicks sweat away from the body and rivals hemp in its superior sustainability.

But perhaps most bizarre is Seacell, made from a seaweed base. The company claims this Oeko-Tex certified fiber promotes activity and creates a sense of well-being.

Sasawashi is another fabric purported to deliver health benefits such as improving circulation and healing inflammation. A blend of rice paper and kumazasa leaves grown in the highlands of Japan, it's an ancient wisdom being put to good use. Lofty claims for mere fabrics, but given such ingenuity in the world of textiles, we're tempted to broaden the scope of our wardrobes (though shopping vintage is always an environmental boon).

Lastly, I'd like to say, watch out for wool. While it is an eco-friendlier option (when compared to cotton), wool is not always as natural as it seems to be. Commercially, wool is cleaned by a chemical carbonization process that essentially puts it through a toxic bath. Best to buy organic wool or get it from small, family operations.

To further explore innovations in green fabrics check out Treehugger's Mini Directory of Green Fabrics.

ecofabulous
http://ecofabulous.com

By Grist.org

At Grist.org, we've spent 8 years answering questions about green issues, from the massive to the minuscule. It's the minuscule ones that seem to keep people up at night, and this is one of our all-time favorites: Is it OK to shave with a disposable razor?

Americans purchase 2 billion disposable razors each year, and you know what happens to disposable razors. If you're brave, you could go for a straight razor, or stop shaving entirely.

Feeling somewhat less brave? A razor with disposable blades is better than one that's entirely chuckable. And by the way, we beg ye: don't run the water while you de-hair. It's just a waste.

Also be sure check out our new book, Wake Up and Smell the Planet. It's packed with tips for navigating the hairy situations that fill each day.

Grist.org
http://www.Grist.org/

By BravoTV.com

We at Bravo have been preparing for the launch of GreenIsUniversal.com for quite some time (Hell, Bravo's very own Lauren Zalaznick is head of NBC Universal's Green Council!). But, as we asked many of our favorite Bravo talent to submit their tips and stories about the Green in their lives (and head to http://bravotv.com/green/ to read all about them), we started thinking about the Green in our lives, and for one of our editors it got her thinking about a couple of her father's habits:

My house is an icebox during the winter -- and yes, I still live with my father. My father will yell "Who turned the thermostat up?" And none of my siblings will admit it. Sure, I know how much gas costs now, but I could never understand what the big deal was. For my father, it was the money. But after investigating green tips for Green Week, I learned that lowering one's thermostat even two degrees makes a big difference -- both monetarily and environmentally. Does my father know something I don't know?

My father also likes to yell about water bottles left around the house. "Why do you open them and not finish them?" Again, it's never me - I hate drinking water. But it still drives me nuts! Now we're hearing more and more that water bottles aren't really being recycled like we thought, and obviously people should use reusable bottles instead.

I always thought my father was cheap, but maybe he's just more eco-friendly than the rest of us. He really just might know best.

Bravo Staff
http://bravotv.com/green/

By David Finfrock, KXAS NBC5

I have personally been "Going Green" for decades. My parents taught me to have a healthy respect for the planet. They felt, and I agree, that it is incumbent upon each of us to do what we can to preserve our precious natural resources, and to leave this wonderful country intact, and pass it on to the next generation unimpaired. I have two wonderful granddaughters, and I want them to enjoy the same quality of life that I have been able to enjoy.

In my college days, I joined the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society, the National Parks and Conservation Association, and the Nature Conservancy. And I have volunteered on a number of neighborhood clean-ups. Last year, I spent a week with a group repairing trails in Guadalupe Mountains National Park in west Texas. So some people might call me a "tree-hugger". But I don't take that as an insult. It seems to me that the conservative position should be to conserve our resources, and not use them all up in one or two generations.

And I am not the only one to feel that way. Over the past few months, while doing my Going Green stories, I have been pleasantly surprised by the responses of businesses throughout our area. All across north Texas, businesses are recognizing the moral need for conservation. But they are also discovering that Going Green can result in financial success as well. Businesses and individuals alike are realizing that we can indeed go green, without hardship, and with great benefits for this and for future generations.

David Finfrock
Chief Meteorologist
KXAS-TV NBC5 Dallas/Fort Worth TX
http://www.nbc5i.com

By Dhiram Shah, newlaunches.com

Pollution, the environment, greenhouse gases, global warming and energy waste, these are issues that we all hear about often... even in India. Humans as a race have failed to evolve as civilized beings. I'm not talking about culture, tradition and beliefs and inventions. We have achieved distinction in all these fields. But we have grossly failed to secure our future or even plan for it by ignoring the signs Mother Nature has been throwing at us. We know how to build, use electricity, run huge machines and even go to space, but we fail to instill small measures like turning off the lights when not in use or even throwing paper in the bins.

Mahatma Gandhi was a great visionary of his time, but few people know that he was a great conservationist. He used to use scraps of paper and used sheets to write down notes and messages. But his countrymen are the sorts who leave their hotel room's air conditioner on so that the room is cool when they return from their sightseeing trip. In India, a country where basic amenities like water and electricity are still a major issue, electricity theft and water waste are a major concern.

For my part I try my best to conserve. I've learned to use the 11-number bus ( i.e. my two feet) to get to places close at hand. As a responsible urbanite my kids go to school in car pool and I don't let them waste water frivolously. But most importantly I have taught them to respect nature. We as a family try to watch less TV and instead go for a walk or watch a movie in the theater. We switch off the appliances when not in use. We recycle our newspaper and in our own way try to do our bit. We were well rewarded with a dip in our electricity bill and travel expenses.

What can you do to help? Like they say, actions speak louder than words. Walk, bike or even use a pedal boat instead of your car. Turn off those lights and unused appliances. Do something, anything, no matter how big or small just do it. We all need to start somewhere.

Dhiram Shah
http://newlaunches.com/

By Sundance Channel

Changing the world overwhelms most people who even think about the concept. Sundance Channel's THE GREEN has shown you innovative companies and inspired individuals initiating green changes. Seeing how other people have changed, learning about steps to living an every day green lifestyle and applauding the efforts of progressive companies are important aspects of creating a green movement. Now that Sundance Channel has provided an entertaining plethora of on-air content, the next step is to provide a practical tool for communities of people to come together on green initiatives. The Eco-mmunity map is one such tool.

We encourage you to explore this virtual map of the known world. Using Google Earth Maps, this map provides an unparalleled user interface for people, communities and businesses who want America to be green. The map already has many markers on it, but it is hungry for the participation of the general public. The amount of positive green changes that the Eco-mmunity can help to facilitate is directly related to the amount of users making markers on the Map, so we encourage all of our online audience to take advantage of this chance to help the world be more green.

If you are relatively new to the Green Blog or you have just heard about the new Eco-mmunity Map, then you can get a more thorough understanding of the facts by reading the introductory post about the Eco-mmunity Map.

We hope to see all of you having fun on the Map.

Sundance Channel
http://www.sundancechannel.com

We've already learned that shutting down your computer is a great way to save energy... but it's just the beginning. Take the next step and use your mobile phone to help protect Mother Earth. Sign up for NBCU's Mobile Green Alerts. It's simple, efficient, and a great way to stay green while on the go! It also helps you stay connected to greenisuniversal.com when you have shut down your computer to save energy.

Sign up for NBCU's Green Alerts and receive text messages with tips on how you can do your part for the environment. From changing a light bulb to recycling old clothes, these tips make it easier to give back to the planet no matter where you are. Living green has never been so easy!

To sign up, text GREENU to 46833 with your mobile phone. Standard Text Messaging Rates Apply. Or sign up online here at GreenIsUniversal.com/being_green.php - The form is on the lower left.

By Jenifer Morgan, IdealBite.com

When I wasn't in school, I spent the majority of my time as a kid outside - granted, it was remarkably easy since I lived on a 160-acre farm and had a wildly active family. Whether we were hiking or fishing, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, the fam would usually take a moment after lunch to find a comfy nest of pine needles or packed snow, close our eyes, and have a rest - we called it "communing," despite the fact that it frequently involved "napping."

Regardless, that time was so restorative - just listening to the sounds of birds flapping around, wind blowing through the trees, sometimes water rushing by. It calmed our nerves and heightened our sense of awareness at the same time.

I mean, there's a reason we look forward to vacations in naturally beautiful, remote places like Hawaii, right? It all seems pretty "no duh," but I think we forget the ease and enjoyment (and inexpensiveness) of eco-therapy.

Now, not everyone has 160-acre farms to roll around on day to day, and time's a-wastin', but seriously, maybe skip brunch with the girls and get yourself (and them) out on the range - somewhere, anywhere - for a visit to the eco-shrink. A few weekends ago, I went on my first hike in a long time - too long - and mid-way, I parked myself on a log at the foot of a waterfall and "communed" for about half an hour.

I still haven't been billed for it.

Jenifer Morgan
Senior Editor
http://www.IdealBite.com

By Thilak Raj Rao, TechBuzz

Leaving our computers on overnight uses energy. We all know this. Some of us shut our computers down or put them to sleep, but a lot of us just leave them on... all the time.

If you need a little convincing or motivation on why you should turn off your computer at night, then check out LocalCooling.com. It's a free application (Windows XP only) that will automatically optimize your PC's power consumption. It will also show you real-time savings in environmental terms such as how many trees and gallons of oil you've saved.

Local Cooling roughly calculates your PC's power consumption based on your hardware configuration such as monitor size and CPU's power consumption. You can also share your savings stats with the world. Local Cooling's homepage lists top-saving companies, teams and individuals based on any stats that have been shared with them.

At the time I wrote this post, the Local Cooling community had saved 1,753,470.0 KWh which is approximately equal to 841,665.6 gallons of oil and 92,933.91 trees.

While we're on the subject, here are a few more power saving tips for your computer:

Set your computer's power saving scheme so your monitor turns off after a short period of inactivity. Running a screen saver won't do any good. As long as your monitor is on, it's still consuming power.

Try to buy TFT flat screen monitors, not CRT. TFTs generally consume less power.

You can save your notebook's battery by lowering your screen's brightness. If you use Vista, then check out this application.

If you want to keep your applications open, and save power at the same time, then use hibernation instead of sleep mode. Hibernation will save all your open application data. You can learn more about hibernation mode here.

Be efficient and smart with your PCs power consumption. Save power and our planet.

Thilak Raj Rao
http://tech-buzz.net

By Mario Garcia, NBC Nightly News

Here in New York, there is an extensive farmers' market system that we shop at. (When I say we I mean my wife... mostly). The term "eating local" stems from the fact that most of these markets have limitations on how far away the vendors can come from. The closer the farms the less distance driven, the less green house gasses emitted.

Centuries ago most people ate local and seasonal. In fact in the 1800's Brooklyn New York was the top producing agricultural county in the United States. In general, the food at the markets is healthier and better tasting, even if it's not organic. (Many farmers grown food close to the organic certification but then don't get certified for various reasons).

Mario Garcia
NBC Nightly News, Environmental Producer
http://www.nightly.msnbc.com

By Paul McGillivary, Paul Tech Network

I recently watched the NOVA program "Dimming the Sun." The show highlighted, among other things, the effect of airline contrails on macro weather patterns. Scientists had been studying airplane exhaust in the upper atmosphere, and had hypothesized that it could alter surface temperatures. The problem was that they needed a control to test against, but were at a loss.

How would they possibly have an opportunity to monitor temperatures with no air traffic? Well, as fate would have it, September 11, 2001 afforded them that very chance. For the first time in aviation history, the FAA grounded virtually all air traffic in the continental United States. And the results were shocking. Scientists saw a two degree Fahrenheit increase in the range of surface temperatures when airline contrails were not present in the upper atmosphere. Two degrees may not seem like much, but climatologists will tell you that it is. Discoveries like this have started a green revolution.

10 years ago, revolution wasn't the idea that came to my mind when I thought about the green movement. I tended to think of it as very extremist. But I have slowly come to see that I was prejudiced in that regard. I now see that those early whistle blowers were onto something. They understood that our modern excesses can really end up hurting all of us. The problem is that we can sometimes be so far removed from seeing those effects. And I also had to deal with my own excuses. Many of them had more to do with my own busyness, my denial, or just my plain laziness. But, finally, I decided to join this green movement.

My first reaction was to do it all. I wanted a complete solar home, high efficiency appliances, hay filled walls, composting garden, etc. And then I became frozen at the enormity of the idea. I soon realized that I needed to "grow green." Because going green should be an organic process, do small things first. Turn your thermostat up a little in the summer and down a little in the winter. Start recycling everything you can. Think about purchases before you make them. Merge car trips together. Everyone is busy and life is difficult. We have families, jobs, and responsibilities. But starting small allows us to get in the game. This is exactly what our family has been doing. We started recycling. We started composting and stopped trying to use chemicals as much as possible. We started doing small things to grow greener.

Look, our massive landfills and harmful air also started with small things. They started with ideas like "I can do what I want and it doesn't affect others." Small, singular decisions to throw out items that are still usable, multiplied many times over, results in big problems long term. Small actions that harm our environment have multiplied to large concerns. But the small things that got us in this mess can also get us out. We can individually make the decision to start growing greener. We can start a process of learning to live more responsibly. If many small airline contrails can effect the earth's temperature tremendously, just imagine what millions of individuals can do to improve our planet's health.

Paul McGillivary
Paul Tech Network
http://gopaultech.com

By Heather Stephenson, IdealBite.com

Growing up in rural America, where every neighbor has an acre or so of land, you quickly learn how self-sufficient you need to be to keep up the place. With no landscaping company to take care of the lawn, no condo HOAs to ensure that trees are pruned, "keeping up with the Joneses" takes on a whole new meaning and carries with it a whole lotta necessary tools.

Do you have your snowblower? Ladder? Giant pruning shears? Riding lawnmower? Small edging lawnmower? Compost chipper? Compost bins? Chainsaw? Leaf blower? Power paint roller?

Thousands of dollars and a very full tool shed later, you kinda need to step back and reevaluate. Really? Really, do you need all of that? You're gonna mow your lawn once a week, maybe. Prune a few times a year. Paint the house every so often...

So here's a radical idea: Go meet your neighbor. Loan, borrow, buy together. That ladder you have and use three times a year? Let everyone on the block have at it when they need one. Then, when you need a chainsaw to get rid of that downed tree across your driveway, you can feel just fine asking to borrow the Jones's.

Sharing tools isn't gonna make your roses the prettiest on the block, but it might remind you to stop and smell them every so often.

Heather Stephenson
CEO and Co-Founder
http://www.IdealBite.com

By Al Boline, SciFi.com

Incandescent light bulb, ye who sprang from the loins of Thomas Edison, thy days are numbered. Already you've been banned in Australia starting in 2010. Now similar moves are being contemplated in Canada and the European Union. Has the nanny state run amok once again?

This guy at shoutwire.com thinks so. He acknowledges the advantages of compact fluorescent lighting - the main alternative to incandescents, at least for the time being - including energy savings and flexibility in color temperature. But he also offers a long list of cons: They don't produce a focused beam of light, don't work well in extreme temperatures, can't be battery-powered, pose a waste-disposal challenge due to mercury content, are too bulky for some light fixtures, don't quite duplicate the golden glow of incandescents, and have higher sticker prices (though they're cheaper to run). And, uh, they can't be used to incubate an egg or keep your lizard warm, because they run cool.

Follow the link below for a few issues he missed - and how a ban in the U.S. could work. (Disclosure: NBC Universal is owned by GE, which manufacturers light bulbs of all kinds.)

I'd add a few more negatives: Compact fluorescents aren't approved for use in places with high humidity (like your bathroom). Some of them don't work with dimmers. And some people claim their flickering can produce physical distress, though others call that a myth, pointing out that modern fluorescents cycle much faster than the eye or brain can process.

Having said that, I agree that incandescents should be banned. I've replaced 75% of the bulbs in my home and office with compact fluorescents and use the latter 95% of the time. They light my desk by day and my reading by night. Because they dissipate less energy in the form of heat, fluorescents use one-quarter as much energy as incandescents, thereby reducing global-warming gases and saving me money every month. They offset their initial cost by lasting much longer, and I enjoy my chosen color temperature of 4,100 kelvins, the hue of late-afternoon sunlight. Oh, and if you don't like fluorescents, you might try LED lights instead. There may even be a new breed of energy-saving incandescents from General Electric by the time the Australians pull the trigger.

So I'm in favor of the ban as long as it allows exceptions, so old-style incandescents can be used where they're still appropriate. Climate change is a real threat and we need to modify our behavior. If people respond by acting like babies - "I can't use my urine-colored luminescent space heaters anymore? Wahhh!" - maybe the nanny state isn't such a bad idea after all.

Al Boline
blog.scifi.com/tech/

By Erin Walsh, iVillage.com

Is it just me, or has green consumerism gone mainstream? Maybe I'm just more aware of it than most people because it's my job to be, but since becoming the editor of iVillage's iGo Green channel, I've come across hundreds of different products and services in various shades of green: reusable shopping bags for toting groceries; funky lampshades made from recycled nylon; all-natural lip gloss, perfume and stretch mark cream; mini wind turbines for your roof; energy-saving LED holiday lights for your home; biodegradable doggie "business bags; non-VOC paint; PTFE-free pots and pans; wedding bands made from recycled gold; a lunch box made from recycled foil juice boxes; organic everything.

I could go on. But the point is, while an average jane like myself may not be able to afford a $100,000 electric Tesla Roadster like George Clooney, I can buy a reusable designer "cupcoat" to slip onto my paper coffee cup every morning (to the great amusement of the women at the deli checkout counter, might I add) in place of a cardboard sleeve that will get tossed.

If I sound tongue-in-cheek, I don't mean to. I truly believe that there are a lot of great eco-friendly products out there and, thanks to the fact that virtually every company either has or is scrambling to develop a green strategy, they are more accessible - and affordable - than ever before. I'm under no delusions that my cupcoat will save the world, and I like to think that most people who buy "green" products know that doing so is just a first step toward making a real difference. I also like to think that if buying organic dog food is what it takes to make someone a little more environmentally aware, then that can only be a good thing.

Still, I can't help but wonder whether buying is always the best course of action. Last weekend, as I packed away my summer clothes and pulled sweaters and jackets out of boxes, I came across my favorite brown boots, looking a little worse for the wear. The heels were worn down, and the toes were badly scuffed and faded. As much as I loved those boots, I resigned myself to the fact that it was time to let them go. The next day, when I grumbled to my boyfriend that I was going to have to spend money on a new pair of boots, he suggested that I take the old ones to a shoe repair shop nearby. I was a little embarrassed; it may sound like a no-brainer, but the thought literally hadn't occurred to me. Like a true child of today's disposable culture, when something breaks or gets worn, I'm so quick to simply discard it and buy a new one. "They'll be able to fix them up so they look as good as new," he promised.

Sure enough, with nothing but two new heels and a good polishing - and for a grand total of $7 - the boots that I was ready to throw away will probably make it through at least a few more New York City winters. Hmm, as cool as my cupcoat is, maybe I should skip the paper cups and consider giving that old travel coffee mug in my cupboard another chance...

Erin Walsh
iVillage Inc., Associate Producer, iGo Green
http://www.iVillage.com/green/

What's SCI FI's favorite planet? Caprica? Mongo? Nope. We're casting our vote for the big blue marble, the third rock from the sun, the Galactica's fabled 13th colony of Kobol - or, as you Terrans like to call it, Earth.

For the week of November 5-11, we'll bring you our best "green" films and shows, such as special episodes of Flash Gordon and Eureka. Our Nature Unleashed movies will give you on a front-row seat to the ways that our dangerously changing planet likes to get even with us: fires, avalanches, volcanoes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. (Tidal waves can't be far behind, we figure.) The week will wrap up with a marathon of environmental cautionary tales, including Man-Thing, Solar Attack and Meltdown.

Why are we showing you visions of a messed-up planet? To wake you up and spur you into action. We'll be posting all week about the ways our world could get screwed up and what we can do to stop it. SCI FI Weekly will look at movies that might be our future if we don't wise up - from The Horror of Party Beach to Zardoz - and the animals that could take revenge when we're weak and on the ropes. (You might think twice about breaking out the Raid™ the next time you see an ant in your kitchen. Bugs hold grudges.)

Our tech blog, DVice, will look for solutions to our world's myriad problems - from alternative fuels and carbon-footprint reduction methods to energy scavengers, giant microwaves and corn starch. That's right, corn starch.

SCIFI.COM Staff
http://blog.scifi.com/tech/

By Joe Gesue, Football Night in America

On Sunday, NBC's Football Night in America went "green." The behind-the-scenes story from editorial director Joe Gesue.

... after brainstorming ideas (does this mean we have to do extended highlights on the Eagles and Jets -- teams in green uniforms?) -- we figured one way to send a real message was to turn off the lights at the end of Football Night in America, and keep them off right through halftime and the postgame. This sent our information team back to their physics textbooks and web sites to calculate how much energy we could conserve (requiring refreshers on kilowatt hours and reviews of power company press releases), and how to explain the numbers in comprehensible terms.

So at the same time we were breaking down Brady and Manning in their head to head matchups, and all the various records the sensational rookie running back Adrian Peterson was smashing, we were learning that 4 hours of power down in the studio could conserve about the same amount of energy it takes to power an average home for a month.

As it turned out, our hosts and analysts had fun with the "lights out" portion of the shows while introducing our viewers to the company's plans for the upcoming week. Bob ("As you see, we're in the dark, and I mean more than usual."), Cris ("they finally got our lighting right"), and Keith ("Collinsworth stole my wallet!") all ripped off good lines in between delivering information and while lit only by flashlights and candles.

There were some logistical hurdles, for sure: it's difficult to read highlight copy in the dark, and on a set as large and complex as ours in Studio 8G, you have to walk carefully to avoid bumping into a colleague or an unforgiving piece of equipment.

In the control room, one of the big events was connecting Bob in New York with Matt Lauer, who was in place north of the Arctic Circle in Greenland. Bob had some fun with the sled dogs in the background behind Matt, hoping they were of the friendly sort. Matt quickly shot back that he was prepping for a cover shoot for "Dog Sledders Monthly".

In the end, preparing to kickoff the Green is Universal initiative on Football Night led to some small but tangible results. A number of staffers took mass transit to work instead of driving, hopping on a subway or taking Metro North from the suburbs. At least one started studying his electric bills going back several months looking for trends and ways to save. And even though we'll go back to business as usual next week, with the lights on during our football studio shows, we will be turning the lights off in between shows, something we didn't think do in the past until, during our preparation for tonight's show, we determined that doing so will have a positive impact.

Joe Gesue
Football Night in America
http://www.nbcsports.com

If you're one of the millions of Americans turning over a new, green leaf in their personal lives -- show us!

In collaboration with MSNBC.com, we're collecting videos, pictures and stories of all the ways people are becoming aware, taking action, and getting results.

You can upload your stories and images, and see some great green ideas already at work in people's lives here.

By Marisa Belger, TodayShow.com

What do you think about when you see the word "bamboo"? Until recently, whenever I came across the plant, perhaps tossed in a salad as shoots or sold in lucky sets of three in Chinatown, I'd picture giant pandas pigging out on their favorite snack.

But as I've learned more and more about environmentally friendly alternatives to everything from flooring, serving ware, furniture, and even clothes, I've come to see that bamboo plays a bigger role than merely panda sustenance.

Why bamboo? The short answer: As Americans become increasingly eco-conscious - or eco-curious for those just starting to look into the vast green options available today - one of the main issues that we look to eradicate is the uncontrolled use (um, exploitation) of the earth's natural resources. Sure, most of these resources are renewable, that is, they naturally restock or renew themselves, but when our demand outpaces the rate at which the resource is able to be renewed, we run into serious trouble.

Enter bamboo, thought to be the fastest-growing plant on the planet. This grass - fun fact: Bamboo is classified as a grass, not a tree - has attracted the attention of eco-aware contractors and furniture designers because it is considered to be one of our most sustainable resources, while our forests risk devastating deforestation.

This grass is light-years away from the green tufts sprouting out of your front lawn. For starters, bamboo can be harvested in about four years - think how long it takes a tree to grow to full maturity - and, incredibly, does not require replanting because it continually creates new sprouts. And if that's not enough, bamboo is so incredibly strong - certain varieties have been compared to steel - that it is used in the construction of homes and even bridges in some parts of the world. And bamboo is a natural superstar, growing to such heights-over 60 feet in some cases - without the aid of toxic pesticides and fertilizers.

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Good enough to trade in your hardwood floors for bamboo's blond boards or to look for dining tables made out of the king of all grasses. But what does bamboo, a resilient, hyper-strong plant, have to do with some of the softest, most luxurious clothing you'll ever put on your body?

A lot.

Recent manufacturing technology has developed a method of turning bamboo pulp into fiber, which can then be transformed into silky-soft fabric. Designers both big and small are turning bamboo into sumptuous T-shirts, skirts, pants, socks, baby clothes, and even sheets and towels.

For the last year my bed has been swathed in the extra-soft goodness of bamboo sheets -like Egyptian cotton on steroids - and sleeping has yet to be the same (every night has been a cozier, cuddlier, all-around improved slumbering experience). In support of the mainstreaming of eco-conscious products I picked up my 230-count bamboo sheet set at Bed Bath & Beyond for an affordable $80 (queen-size).

To make bamboo clothing and home goods even more desirable, bamboo fabric has been found to be thermal regulating - keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter; moisture absorbing - bamboo fabric will absorb sweat quickly; breathable - clothing made out of bamboo is especially porous; and best of all, antibacterial - bamboo contains a naturally occurring antimicrobial agent called kun that prevents the growth of bacteria.

My top picks for the best of bamboo clothing design and home goods:

Bamboosa: This bamboo emporium is a one-stop shop for casual clothing for women, men and baby. The BamboosaBaby gift set makes an eco-original shower gift and Bamboosa's socks would make an excellent stocking stuffer for the stinky-footed in your family. Bamboosa goes all the way with eco-friendly dyes and 100 percent recycled paper packaging as well as sweat-shop-free, U.S.-based manufacturing.

Linda Loudermilk: If eco-conscious clothing still conjures up images of bulky hemp pants in earthy, unflattering colors, it's time to go luxury, "luxury eco." Loudermilk is a high-end designer whose cutting-edge designs embody her "luxury eco" ethic with their colors and cut as well as their fabric origins. In addition to bamboo, the dynamic pieces are made of sasawashi, sea cell and other exotic sustainable plants.

Bamboo sheets: There are many options for outfitting your bed in bamboo. Giam sells sheet sets in a cotton-bamboo blend; VivaTerra's sheets are made of 100 percent bamboo fiber; and Target has even gotten into the game with a 60 percent cotton, 40 percent bamboo blend.

Closing note: Bamboo fiber is undeniably soft, but it's also undeniably imperfect. Eco-investigators are discovering that while the bamboo plant is environmentally friendly, the manufacturing process that turns bamboo into fabric may not be equally earth conscious. The minds behind the Organic Clothing Blog, a site that covers eco-fashion, believe that "the manufacturing of bamboo into fabric raises environmental and health concerns because of the strong chemical solvents used to cook the bamboo plant into a viscose solution that is then reconstructed into cellulose fiber for weaving into yarn for fabric."

To play it safe, before you invest in your very own pair of bamboo pants or a set of bamboo sheets, take a moment to inquire into the company's manufacturing methods.

Marisa Belger
TODAYShow.com
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21207409/

As a child of the Great Plains I've long had a personal connection to the virtues of clean air, open space and the benefits of nature in its most primal state. I suppose that upbringing made me an environmentalist before the phrase was popular.

My career took me to big cities and developing countries where the effect of population, transportation, manufacturing and consumption altered the environment in a way that was appalling to my country boy memories.

So I was constantly finding a way back into the wilderness or on to the prairie or into the mountains somewhere in the world where my spirit could be refreshed.

As a personal gesture, that was helpful but I knew it was not enough so I began to find new ways of expressing my own determination to do something. In our family we have 4 hybrid cars; we've changed all the light bulbs to the more energy efficient models; we've installed solar panels for hot water and even for some general heating at our Montana ranch; we re-cycle and carry tote bags to the grocery store or re-use plastic bags while shopping.

I am a fanatic about packaging materials. Many small items in convenience stores have packaging worth much more than the product.

I've been known to write the companies responsible to say, "Is this really necessary?" Plastic card keys at hotels? I turn mine back in at the end of the stay and say, "You can re-use this, right?"

These are all very small gestures in the big picture but they do add up and they help keep me focused on the larger picture, which is much more daunting.

Global warming is one of the greatest challenges of my life-time, at once daunting and stimulating. Daunting because of the consequences. Stimulating, even exciting, because of the opportunities and intellectual frontiers that are being opened.

Think of the green world as a vast new universe, just waiting to be explored and settled in a responsible fashion.

Be Luke Skywalker, not Darth Vader.

Tom Brokaw
GreenIsUniversal.com

By Mark Lukasiewicz, GreenIsUniversal.com

Here at GreenIsUniversal.com, we got to thinking about how much unnecessary, unwanted mail we each get every day. There are catalogues, flyers, credit card solicitations, and brochures -- not to mention all kinds of mail (magazines, newspapers, bills, statements) that could be delivered electronically.

Our question was: how much does it all add up to? So we decided to conduct a little experiment. For one week, we put aside all the mail we each got that we didn't really need or want. And at the end of the week, we got together to figure it out.

Jon, Annette, Mark, Nicole, Bonnie

By Vanessa Farquharson, greenasathistle.com

I'm currently on Day 249 of living as green a lifestyle as it gets. No, I'm not your standard hemp-clad, dread-locked hippie; just an average cosmopolitan woman who lives with her cat and has a flat-screen TV and wanted to do something to help fight global warming but didn't know where to start.

So, I started with baby steps, and was determined to take a year's worth of them, changing my life in an eco-friendly way every 24 hours. Sometimes I do small stuff, like switch to recycled paper towels; other times I do big stuff, like sell my car. What's surprised me the most is that it's often the big stuff that's the easiest to deal with.