Earthtalk
EarthTalk: What’s up with all the boxes from online shopping?
Dear EarthTalk: How do environmentalists feel about the amount of packaging waste consumers have to deal with now that holiday shopping has largely switched over from retail shops to online stores? This past holiday season marked the first year that holiday shoppers spent more of their gift budgets online than in stores, according to a […]
EarthTalk: Which are greener: Trains or buses?
Dear EarthTalk: I always assumed the train was the greenest form of mass transit, but a friend told me I would be better off taking the bus. Could this be true? Most of us assume that train travel—whether for getting around town, commuting to work or for long hauls—is the most eco-friendly mass transit “mode.” […]
EarthTalk: What’s up with ‘indoor air pollution?’
Dear EarthTalk: I’ve been having trouble sleeping and my doctor suggested that indoor air pollution could be a contributing factor. Do you have any tips for how to improve my home’s air quality without breaking the bank? The key to a healthy indoor environment is clean air, but many of the finishes and furniture […]
EarthTalk: How will climate change affect real estate values?
Dear EarthTalk: How will climate change affect real estate values? It’s not surprising that questions like these are on readers’ minds today, given the relentless hurricanes in the Southeast, the devastating wildfires in California and other climate-related “Acts of God” bedeviling Americans recently. No doubt, climate change is already having an effect on real estate […]
EarthTalk: How do I give ‘green’ this Christmas, and I don’t mean money. Merry Christmas EarthTalk!
Dear EarthTalk: I want to set a good environmental example with my gift-giving this holiday season. Any tips on how—or even better, what—to give greener? The holidays are a time for giving but it is also important to be conscious about spending your gift budget wisely to eliminate packaging waste, buy products that will last […]
EarthTalk: How about some cool gift ideas for strict vegans?
Dear EarthTalk: How about some cool gift ideas for strict vegans? Well…an Omaha Steaks gift box is definitely off the table as an idea, but there are plenty of great gift options for the vegans or even just the animal-friendly among us. Food-wise, how about a gift certificate to the recipient’s favorite vegan restaurant or […]
EarthTalk: Our cars are getting greener, but what about trucks?
Dear EarthTalk: It’s obvious that our cars are getting greener every year, but what about 18 wheelers? We all rely on heavy duty trucks to haul as much as 80 percent of the goods we use and consume. But those ubiquitous 18-wheelers are also a big contributor to the overall pollution footprint of the transportation […]
EarthTalk: B Corporations to the Earth’s Rescue
Dear EarthTalk: I know what C Corporations, S Corporations and LLCs are, but what are “B Corporations” and how does this status help the environment? C Corporations, S Corporations and LLCs are legal business structures distinguished by how they pay their taxes under U.S. federal income tax law, whereas a B Corporation (or “B Corp,” […]
EarthTalk: What are some ways we can encourage more commuters to ride bikes?
Dear EarthTalk: What are some ways we can encourage more commuters to ditch their cars in favor of bikes? One of the best things we can do as individuals to fight climate change is to reduce the number of miles we drive in our fossil-fuel powered cars. But replacing those car rides with more fuel-efficient […]
EarthTalk: What are planners and designers doing to solve the so-called “last-mile” problem regarding transit?
Dear EarthTalk: What are planners and designers doing to solve the so-called “last-mile” problem regarding transit? Solving the “last mile” (or “first-mile”) problem—that is, getting transit riders from their bus stop, train station or ferry terminal “the last mile” to the doorstep of their home or workplace—has plagued urban planners since the dawn of public […]
